Today, in the only Saturday match-up of Lent Madness, it’s the Slavic Smackdown® as Cyril takes on Methodius. While much of the world is preparing for Valentine’s Day (named for a confusing muddle of murky, martyred saints in ancient Rome), the church actually celebrates Cyril and Methodius on February 14, not Saint(s) Valentinus. So go ahead and cast your vote and then show your devotion to your “Valentine” by writing a love poem in Cyrillic or serving up a big bowl of borscht.
Yesterday, Absalom Jones defeated Matthias 82% to 18% (in other words, by A LOT–get it?) in the first genuine blowout of Lent Madness 2016. He’ll go on to face the winner of Christina Rossetti vs. Joseph in the next round. Really, it’s bad luck for Matthias. He certainly drew the short straw in the match-up calendar.
Tomorrow, enjoy Sunday (we highly encourage church attendance) and then be ready to go bright and early on Monday morning as Lent Madness returns with what should prove to be a hotly contested battle between Julian of Norwich and William Wilberforce.
Cyril
Cyril was born in Thessalonica (located in today’s Macedonia) around 827. Educated in Constantinople, he studied theology, Hebrew, and Arabic and became a priest. He was sent on two missions to the Middle East. Cyril’s most influential mission took him and his brother Methodius to the Slavs of Great Moravia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia). Although missionaries from Rome had already evangelized Moravia, Prince Rastislav wanted to place his state firmly under the influence of the church in Constantinople.
To translate the Bible and the liturgy into the local language, Cyril and Methodius used a number of mostly Greek characters to create the Glagolitic alphabet. This was the first Slavic alphabet and is closely related to the more recent Cyrillic alphabet—named after Cyril. Using their new alphabet, Cyril and Methodius translated the Bible, the Slavic Civil Code, and possibly a Slavic liturgy. Cyril and Methodius were successful in converting many Slavs to Christianity and establishing the use of their alphabet; because of jurisdictional issues, they could not establish the Slavic liturgy without the pope’s approval.
Cyril and his brother traveled to Rome, where they were well received, in part because they brought with them some of Saint Clement’s relics. Pope Adrian II authorized the new Slavic liturgy, and Slavic priests were ordained and allowed to celebrate the liturgy in their native language. Cyril became a monk and died shortly afterward, in 869.
Along with his brother Methodius, Cyril is known as one of the two apostles to the Slavs. Celebrations in memory of these brothers are held across Eastern Europe every year.
Methodius
Quietly, and without any fanfare, Methodius helped shape Europe and Asia in ways that have often gone largely unnoticed by Western Christianity.
Methodius (Michael) was born to a Christian family in the city of Thessalonica in the early ninth century. Methodius was the eldest of seven brothers, and he either learned the Slavic language from Slav migrants in Macedonia, or possibly from his mother (who may have been a Slav).
After a brief career in the public sphere, Methodius entered a monastery at Mount Olympus (present day Uludağ). Eventually his youngest brother Constantine (later taking the name Cyril) joined Methodius at the monastery. From the monastery, the brothers set out on a series of missionary journeys.
They shared a passion to share the good news in the native language of the people to whom they were ministering, not relying solely on Hebrew, Greek, and Latin translations of the Bible. And so they set about translating portions of scripture into Slavic and to create a Slavic liturgy. To do this, they invented an alphabet unique to the Slavic tongue. The later evolution of this script is known as the Cyrillic Alphabet and is still widely used across Eastern Europe.
While traveling and sharing the gospel, Methodius and Cyril created a code of law that is still in use to this day. The brothers also discovered the remains of Pope Clement I. They returned the earthly remains of Clement to Rome, where Methodius was ordained a priest by Pope Adrian II. Following the death of Cyril in Rome, Methodius continued the work of carrying the gospel to the Slavs.
Collect for Cyril and Methodius
Almighty and everlasting God, by the power of the Holy Spirit you moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Cyril vs. Methodius
- Methodius (65%, 4,567 Votes)
- Cyril (35%, 2,504 Votes)
Total Voters: 7,071
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Dear Supremes,
With all due respect, you have missed a Golden opportunity to challenge the cult of the individual by putting these two up as a single candidate for the Halo. They, their ministry, and their commemoration are inseparable. Your attempt to escape that reality by assigning two biographers to write essentially the same account is a transparent ruse.
The only reasoned response to the dilemma with which you have thus presented the faithful would be to vote for neither. Yet this is Lent Madness, not Lent Reason, and madness demands a vote as its due.
Under such compulsion, I have been much inclined to vote for Cyril because of Walt Disney’s film “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad,” which I saw with delight at the age of seven and in which Cyril is Toad’s boon companion and primary means of transportation. Notwithstanding being jilted for a motor car, Cyril remains faithful when Toad is imprisoned in the Tower of London and engineers an escape worthy, when one considers the logistics of disguising a horse as the grandmother of an amphibian, of the Acts of the Apostles.
Finally, however, my vote goes to Cyril’s brother, so that it may at least be said that there is Methodius in my Madness.
Very well said, Davis. Thank you!
Bad enough the Republican party has sent me a presidential preference ballot with 13 names, all of them mediocre to awful. Now the Supreme Execs are asking me to pick one brother over another. We know nothing about which brother did more or was cuter. So respectfully I will bow out of this round of voting and get back to the surreal world of the Florida primary.
Excellent response to both Lent Madness.
Well, next time I will complete the sentence before I hit
I agree with you and I follow your example in not voting for either.
At least you had the c ourage to bow out of voting in this impossible choice. I cowardly just threw a dart and picked one. Not a very informed choice; will do better next time.
Good point! Looks matter
Hard decision. Methodius won out because he had the longer ministry and because he was slighted when the alphabet he helped develop was named after his brother. After reading Davis Dassori’s reply, I was glad to see that, without realizing it, I had gone for a “Methodius in my Madness!” (Great line, Davis!)
I also voted for Methodius since the brothers seem to have shared their ministry. Cyril gets credit for the alphabetboth created, and Iwant to recognize Methodius’s role. Plus, Methodius took to the religious life first and led Cyril to it.
I agree. One of the reasons I picked Methodius was as Carolyn M. stated, he must have led a good example. Of course we should give their parents some credit. The other reason, is because after his brother Cyril died, he continued to serve when perhaps he could have retired? Did they do that then?
That is the reason I chose Methodius . These brothers were peas in the same pod. They both were great in their Ministry.
Yes, I supported Methodius–first in ministry if not in birth order. Dealing with inter-sibling issues often enough as an adult, this seemed a poor way to hold up their ministry as part of the Madness. Then again, that is what it is.
Older siblings never get their due – as an oldest sibling, I admit that this swayed my vote!
I voted for Methodius, too, because in my experience the elder or eldest sibling (I am that in my family) has the harder/hardest time, has to blaze trails and such…no matter that the younger sibling(s) may be cuter!
Yes, the elders are always in the background, doing the hard work, whilst the youngsters frolic in the spotlight, gaining the glory. Let’s give Methodius a little recognition!
Likewise.
Sure, Cyril got an alphabet, but didn’t Methodius get a whole denomination named after him?
Now that was funny.
I love the idea of having the two brothers be one contestant together. Too bad…
Mom always liked HIM best (the loser!)
Loved your comment, Davis, and going for “Methodius in my madness”. I am not very methodical, though, and as a younger sister, I voted for Cyril.
Well said, David. Your argument is indeed compelling, and I applaud your bravado in calling out the SEC for the ruse that they are! Despite the “Methodius” to your Madness, I felt compelled to vote for the current underdog, Cyril, in hopes of restoring the balance of the universe.
It would make more sense for the SEC to have nominated both brothers as a team. That being said, I decided to follow your approach, Rich.
Thank you all for starting today with your thoughtful and witty comments. I voted for Methodius because we’ve all heard about Cyril but I, for one, knew nothing about his big bro. Winning this match willl help even the score. Brothers tend to be competitive, right?
Methodius had my vote because he initiated his work without fanfare or authority. Too bad we must chose one brother over another!
Right!
Indeed, well said Davis.
Well said. I read the offerings twice over, and didn’t see a clear winner; they are inseparable. In the end, I voted for Mathodius, but not with strong conviction!
Susan – Did you vote in favor of the mathematician over the linguist?
sort of my thoughts exactly! although yours make sense and mine are jumbled! not fair to put brother vs. brother so i voted for the older one.
This post is awesome. I also followed the adventures of Mr Toad but I am going to have to vote for Methodius in The Maadness.. How refreshishing is is to try to choose the better of two bests, than to choose the lesser of two evils.
Amen to that, Christie!
Right on. Ruse indeed. “Couple of Saints” would have been in the spirit of brotherhood, not a revisit of Cain and Abel!
Sign, for whom shall I vote?
Totally agree with David. Methodius in my Madness, best caption ever!
Reply
Agreeing with Davis Dassori! VERY clever last line.
You expressed my thoughts precisely as I would have expressed them, albeit much more eloquently than I could have done. I voted for Methodius because people usually vote for the first name on the slate. Reason for madness??
Hear, hear!
Oh, the cruelty! Shame on you, SEC for pitting brother against brother in this contest. Hasn’t there been enough internecine conlfict in this beautifu region without adding this to it? I am not at all sure that I can choose between them, so perhaps I must sit this one out, as much as it goes againt my principles! Год Блес Ботх тхесе деар саинц!
Google Translate says that you wrote “God Bless Both these dear Sainz!” 🙂
That’s right. I was going for “Holy Men”. But for some reason my virtual Serbian keyboard did not like translating “S eti Gospodin.” Or I had the words wrong, somehow!
Oops! “Sverige gospodin”
I’m impressed that you were writing actual words with the Cyrillic alphabet!
This was a bad match-up. Actually, an unfair match-up. Both brothers did basically the same thing.
I chose Methodius the elder brother.
I voted for Cyril.
Cyril was the oldest. He ‘paved the’ way. I think Cyril deserves to be recognized for all of his good deeds, including, mentoring his younger brother.
Because of that, they BOTH went on to transform the language of religion that allowed the Word to be spread.
Good Job fellas!
I like your rationale, Rhonda – that is a good reason to vote for the oldest. But to be clear *Methodius* is the elder
I could not agree more. I almost voted twice just to be able to complain about the unfairness. Whatever happened to brotherly love and symbiosis and all that other two-ness. I request a re-rack of the bracket. Or at least a promise that the losing brother will be guaranteed of a slot in next year’s bracket.
I agree, Phil. Guaranteeing the losing brother a slot in next year’s bracket would be fair.
Having an Eastern European heritage, with a childhood home in NE Pennsylvania, and the boy next door to our family’s home having the name Cyril…I had to go for the younger of the brothers. I also followed the Biblical ‘method’ of the younger being greater than the elder brother. Also five years in the Methodist church was ‘methodius’ enough for me.
David, I think the Methodius decision would have tipped to Disney, hence Cyril, since there was no sequel to the aforementioned movie starring Methodius…was there?
No, and Cyril was,my favorite character (like, I remember him with affection after 65 years!). But I couldn’t resist the pun.
Completely agree Davie, so voting for neither, seems more like a case of Lent stupidity to me
I agree with Michael and was tempted to abstain today, but did vote for the brother who seemed to be the underdog before I voted, and who is still receiving fewer votes at this point today. I’m already looking forward to today’s winner being pitted against Albert Schweitzer/Lawrence!
I too am very disappointed that this match up was presented to us. I too am choosing to express my disappointment by not voting.
Well said David. Wonder what other surprises are in store for us Lenters!
I had precisely the same reaction. These are not two individuals; they are one item. You can’t have Kiril without Methodius, and of course without Kiril, Methodius is just not getting the job done either.
Kiril and Methodius may not win the golden halo, but they deserve to remain together, not put against one another.
Very well reasoned argument for your choice.
I couldn’t agree more about the distaste of separate recognition for these two who accomplished so much together.
After a few years of Cyril getting all the credit, I though I’d vote for the elder, to allow him the comfort of recognition.
I agree. These two did so much together that it is nearly impossible to separate them. In fact, I know of at least one Eastern Catholic Church in the Spokane (WA) Valley that is named for BOTH of them. What was the thinking in separating them?
Brilliant!
I agree — they should have been presented as a team, as in fact they were until Cyril’s death. Having had to choose, i voted Cyril because I have seen his tomb at San Clemente. That isn’t a good reason, but it does distinguish them for me.
I agree with David. Hard to choose one over the other, since their ministry seemed to be shared so closely. I voted for Methodius since I figured he was the underdog. I should have realized that the underdog is usually the winner in Lent Madness!
Great response. Thank you
Agreed. Felt like I was observing a brother-against-brother pitting which kept bringing to my mind the US Civil War. I rarely abstain from voting, and will vote today based on the image of the TWO brothers together posted next to Methodius which moved me to see the two as one heartfelt collaboration and dedication. Thus, I am looking at times for influence from the images shared as well as from the collects for the saints, and in this case, it is very clear that the two saints were remembered in the collect as a team. What linguistic, diplomatic, theological, liturgical, scriptural and cultural genius these two shared and contributed on to the other, but the image of the two and the collect for the two appeared in relation to Methodius, so regardless of his brother’s individual virtues, he gets my vote. That vote is really for BOTH of them, and I didn’t like this pairing, but so it goes. Moving onward, inspired by these two brothers!
Gaaaak — Wish I could go back and edit. Darn auto-correct! Also wish there was a “like” button here! Some of these comments are fabulous, instructive and smart! (Thanks much, folks!)
My post should have read “contributed one to the other,” not “contributed on to the other.” Maybe sympathetic and tolerant readers will add the “e” to “on” when they read the first time, but once again, apologies for textual blunder followed by no way to make my correction.
That was a tricky bracket. The SEC must have had the halo off when brother was pitted against brother!
I could not have said it better nor more thoughtful, thank you Davis. My vote also goes to Methodious so as not to counteract the Madness at the Dassori’s.
Thank you, David, for saying it so eloquently. I think what motivated me to vote for Methodius was his decision to enter the monastery (apparently without fanfare) and then accompany his younger — and perhaps — more charismatic brother into the Slavic territories, and not even to go off and sulk when Cyril got all the attention. We notice it isn’t ‘Methodius and Cyril’!
Dear SEC You have not successfully identified who did what. How do we know who was the leader of the two? Cyril gets my sympathy vote to combat all of those bully, know it all, elder siblings. (of which I have neither).
Very well said. I was thinking the same thing as regards to Mr. Toads “wild ride”. I did vote for Cyril because I think his brother would have wanted him to win.
My thoughts exactly – I voted for Methodius, but under protest. They are inseparable and both deserving.
Putting 2 brothers against each other in diabolical. Their bios are almost inseparable.
I agree; they’re a pair. Somehow, I wish they would both get 50!
Percent. I meant 50%.
They are a pair but if vote I must ….I’ll pick Cyril
This is CRAZY to split these two. They would object strenuously, I’m sure, to such an arbitrary division. Bad move, Guys. I, too, will abstain from voting as a means of protest. You should count the abstentions on this one, as well, as the votes for the individual brothers.
Nice
Oh Supreme Executive Committee! What madness indeed to pit brother against brother in this Saintly Smackdown! Other than resorting to the scientific method in making my choice (eeney meeney minee moe) I’ll have to vote with my heart, as a youngest sibling myself and choose Cyril!
Go to your room!!!!
Well said.
Cyril’s early death may be the only dissimilarity in this plot. I methodiously vote for Cyri!!
Yea two votes and Cyril in a landslide !!!!
I think the writer of the entry can make a difference in voting. Excellent job, David Henson
Thank you very much, Molly.
I don’t get it. What are you thinking? 2 brothers who worked together? Come on!!!
Brothers against each other again!? Isn’t there enough of that in Scripture?
P.S. I am new to Lent Madness and enjoying it already. Thank you!
Prayers for a Holy Lent! Rev. Jerry
Yes. Rev Jerry. All the way back to Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and all his brothers, Moses and Aaron, and the list goes on. In all, I think their greatest achievement was in getting the Pope to agree to allow worship and teaching in the people’s native language. While it didn’t last forever and created a lot of controversy, they were way ahead of their time in promoting a mini reformation in that part of the world.
Who among us has an alphabet named after them? Cyril today!
I think the bio of Methodius is better written than that of his brother. I think I am voting for Methodius his description is more complete and gives a fuller picture of him as a man.
Methodius was after all there first. They shouldn’t be put artificially against one another just “for fun and games,” but Methodius was there first, and Kiril chose to join him later on.
I tossed a coin and Methodius won.
I went in a similar direction- Cyril= even number, Methodius= odd number, Excel, random number generator and compute the mean value of 30 random numbers, the number was 0.494384- an even number and Cyril is the choice. No other way for me to get to a choice. Very interesting Saints, we should strive for a tie here!
Exactly! “Both of the above”!
Wow! I am impressed!
Really, SEC? Brother vs. brother. This is not a fair contest. However, since I am the oldest in my family, I will vote for the elder brother, Methodius.
This was my rationale as well. So little to distinguish these two!
Brother v brother unfair but have go with the younger Cyril.
WHAT???? TWO brothers against each other even though they ministered together? Can the SEC be any more heartless? Or devious? Still Methodius was the elder and might well have inspired his youngest brother…it is sometimes the way of siblings so my vote goes to M!
Heartless SEC or just plain uninformed. Really ……. not a fair entry at all.
The alphabet could just as easily been named “Methodiusic,” but that does not roll of the tongue quite like Cyrillic. How do you distinguish between these two whose work was a team effort? I voted Methodius simply because he’s lesser known.
Wouldn’t it have been called the Methodist alphabet?
There is an excellent thought – but as a Methodist, I am biased!
Tough draw here: 2 brothers in the first round! Would have liked to see a potential later round match-up!!
I too am an eldest but have sympathies for the younger. Besides, I once had a cat named Cyril ( who actually was born on February 14.) And, I love the alphabet.
Always support the oldest brother. Easy.
As a middle sib, I was thinking just the opposite. But Methodius did get there first, and in this very even match up, that was enough to get my vote. Since Cyril got his name on the alphabet, it seems Methodius is due for some attention of his own.
If they are like my family, my older sister had all the ideas and wanted me to do the work. What is more important? On the other hand, I like my sister and she did have some good ideas. And she had a headache this morning. I’ll go with Methodius.
Youngest siblings are Saints for enduring the first borns! Go Cyril..
This was a tough one. Elder brother Methodius looks more like the guy who led the expedition with little brother joining him, so they were both passionate missionaries. However, Cyril has an alphabet named after him. It may seem like a small difference, but I think it’s really cool to have people today using the Cyrillic alphabet, not to mention the “Wind in the Willows” reference. I vote for Cy.
I loved the word play, and join my vote to Methodias in my Lenten Madness. Older brother, started true and stayed true. They seem to have supported each other in good works and witness. May the same be said of all siblings!
“May the same be said of all siblings!” Amen!
Since my Slavic grandfather was named Michael, I will go with St. Methodius, but really aren’t we trying to bring people together in the name Christ, not break families apart that AGREE.
Yup, I did eenie, meenie, miney, moe to cast my vote…
As did I. I think of it as a tip of the hat to Matthias, whom I didn’t vote for yesterday. Since drawing lots seemed impractical.
Through the my life I have used this rhyme. However, I have learned recently, that this phrase has an ugly, racist history. I encourage you to learn about its background and discontinue its use as I have
I am aware of the racist version, and don’t use it. However, there are a number of rhymes used to pick things, and for convenience I call them all eenie meenie. I’m partial to the one that starts “my mother and your mother were hanging out clothes” myself, but I don’t think people would know what that means if I used that one.
Tell us about our mothers hanging out clothes, please
Protest! Not voting. Brothers whose ministry was inseparable? Really!?! You can do better SEC. I’m taking Saturday off from the Madness.
Perfect response, I wish I had read this and gotten the idea not to vote.
Would have liked to read more about the finding of Clement I. How does that work?? Also, I think it a shame there isn’t any Cyrillic Alphabet soup. I voted to Cyril.
Thanks for this!
I think the very least the SEC could do, to heal this rift, would be to commission this soup for their fans. How very fun to practice our Biblical translation while having lunch?!!!
There isn’t? What do the children in Russia eat???
Cyril has the joy of an alphabet named after him. Let Methodius win something at least once.
I’m with Don on this. Mind you I am also an elder brother….
I agree that this is a not fair contest. I am also puzzled by the fact that the alphabet is named after Cyril and the collect “your servant Cyril and his brother” implies that Cyril was the leader. It is not usual for the older brother to be a tag-a-long. Is there something Cyril’s biographer did not tell us? With lack of other evidence, I vote for Methodius – who was born first, died last, and is either discriminated against by history or spent his life putting his brother’s fame before his own.
Agreed songofjoy, well said
Well said, songofjoy, Cyril must have been one of those flashy younger brothers who gets all the attention while the elder remains steadfast and faithful! A similar tune plays in my family.
Had to vote for the oldest sibling, being an oldest myself. There really was no other way to pick. I didn’t think of the coin toss until it was too late
I’m an oldest as well, and it seems to me that when the younger sib steps in and gets all the fame (and an alphabet named after himself!), it’s the true saint who stays faithful from first to last regardless. First and last and doing the less obvious work. A saint, Methodius .
These two saints are linked and you did it wrong to separate them……..! Being raised RC and attending the school St. Cyril and Methodius – they were treated as a duo always. That Cyril joined the same monastery of his big brother says to me that Methodius was a pioneer.
PS Bronwyn… I wish I had read all the comments first, i also would have withheld a vote. What a big mistake you Lenten Madness folks made.
Patrice, at least your are with this protester in spirit, which counts, too!
Not fair! Just draw a name either is a good choice. Methodius because I like the way his name sounds.
ditto. not enough info to make a CHOICE BETWEEN BROTHERS WORKING TOGETHER. Priest vs monk? older vs younger? toads not a consideration.
Rather like choosing between Burt and Ernie. Since Methodius lived longer he may have accomplished more good works so I voted for him. Sorry Cyril, I liked you too.
funny!
Burt and Ernie are a great comparison, well suited for this Lenten devotion! I think that even more than the Slavic Smackdown the SEC alluded to, this is really a Sibling Smackdown, and differs from the Wesley Boys in that they were/are more widely known as individuals.
As an only child, I have no firsthand experience of sibling rivalry and birth order. And as someone raised in the pre-Vatican Roman Catholic church, I knew C&M only as the matched set from the Eucharist; it was much later that I learned about Cyril’s great accomplishment.
So… I didn’t vote this morning. I vote early (but not often) and abstained because, as others have noted, I just didn’t want to choose one over the other. But I’ve changed my mind and voted for Cyril tonite in hopes it might bring things a tad closer to the 50/50 tie which would be the Only Right Outcome 😉 Go, Cyril!
Art is also important. Methodius had the better art even though it referred to both.
“Quietly and without fanfare ” won my vote.
This is surreal (pun intended) and I’ve even considered taking on the task of rewriting the words to supercalifragelisticexpialidocious so I could rhyme something easily with “there’s something weird about Cyril’s brother Methidocious”… only to realize I was being over melodious in mispronouncing dear Methodius… (and misspelling, adding an extra syllable…) Oh God, gotta stop!
Matt, you are a hoot! Love it!
Yes, very hard to choose since their contribution was as a team. I voted Methodius because it seems he is less known.
Charles Wesley did beat out John in a former competition. There is the Methodist link…I vote for Methodius.
LOL – I’m a United Methodist, so I chose Methodius.
Me too. I am a bit disappointed that I don’t see any real Wesleyan types in this year’s line-up of contestants. Methodius may be as close as we get this year. Certainly next year’s organizers might consider some good Wesleyans–like E. Stanley Jones, Mary McLeod Bethune, St. Jane (who John Wesley said had attained “perfection”, Bishop Marjorie Matthews, Amanda Smith, Bishop Leontine Kelly..Please include one or two REAL Wesleyans next year.
Oh, Lent Madness, I see a little temptation to encourage division rather than unity. I call foul in pitting 2 brothers who worked together to share the gospel with the Slavs. I call foul in voting for Methodius simply because he is the elder brother and lived longer. In the end I voted for Cyril for this reason, in the Bible, the older brother is often passed over in favor of the younger, usually through deviousness on the part of the younger son. Therefore, I call your deviousness and cast my vote for Cyril
I live in a city with lots of Slavs and Slav heritage, Cyril & Methodius is like a song-can’t be separated. Never have seen a church for St. Methodius without the other ubiquitous Cyril. So, I also would say they should not be divided in voting. We needed both Romulus & Remus for Rome, same for Lent Madness–no dividing.
Resisting a choice between brothers who did most of their ministry together, I selected Methodius who seems to have been the junior partner of the enterprise. Given my proclivity for the underdog. I see Methodius is ahead — I wonder how many people made their choice for the same reason.
Also, I’m United Methodist, which other than the sound, is completely irrelevent to this!
I wanted to vote for both. As a better alternative to not voting and as a test to see if the SEC is really managing voter fraud. Why do they put us in positions like this?
Actually, based on experience during my first year of Lent Madness years ago, the SEC is a power you don’t mess with. They DO know. If you have two voters in a household, it helps to let them know. I think they worry most during the final days of the smackdowns when things get very serious indeed…. So, if you are planning to invite a few friends over to vote and they use your machine, watch out.
If only we could see the votes cast already before we cast our vote, we could engineer what truly should happen, a tie between the two brothers. Couldn’t we put them together and if they win, give them a double halo?
Ooh, good idea! Double halo–I like it!
Methodius must have a method to his (lent) madness.
I voted for Methodius because Cyril already had an alphabet named after him and it seems as if Methodius may have had a big influence in Cyril’s ministry. I know I had an older sister whose kindness, and good example led the way for many of my decisions in life.
Two brothers, in ministry together makes his a close-to-impossible call, but my vote goes to Cyril, currently the underdog — my own Madness at work here.
Since I am a Methodist I decided to go with Methodius in the Madness of pitting brothers against one another. Again! Does the SEC have something against family??
I also agree this is an unfair competition, for what God did through one God did through the other as well. But, as a United Methodist pastor I found that the name Methodius opened a large door for us with a metropolitan in the Russian Orthodox Church when we got to explain how we did not come directly from their saint but from two other brothers who did what they did for God with method.
Since when are elections fair? Since when is life fair? So we opt out of making a decision because it’s “not fair”? My life doesn’t offer a “fairness” option when making decisions and taking action. It wasn’t fair that Cyril was born last so that makes a good reason to vote for him.
Voted for Cyril in honor of Brother Cyril in Legenda Monastica.
Oh, yes, Brother Gregory’s story about Brother Cyril is a memory I won’t soon forget. The entire book of poetry is a treasure that is available on Google books and worth reading. For those of you who don’t know about this collection, here is the url: https://books.google.com/books?id=UBMDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=legenda+monastica&source=bl&ots=O_zeiXDhXe&sig=eMyeIjpzDFxM4KBF_GchPPiA1aY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjci4T5y_XKAhWEWj4KHUprBswQ6AEIRjAL#v=onepage&q=legenda%20monastica&f=false
I am choosing not to vote. Maybe the SEC could move them to the next round as a pair? Methodius and Cyril vs. the winner of Lawrence and Albert Schweitzer.
I like that option!!!!
YES! SEC please fix this mistake and move this dynamic duo to pair against the winner of the next round. You have it in your power to correct this separation… looking forward to seeing you do the right thing.
Great idea!
Lawrence up against Albert Schweitzer?????
Wow what passionate Saturday reasoning; I reckon it’s good there’s only one Saturday vote, or one contest between brothers. So toad versus competing Protestant sect?
Younger brother votes for younger bro, and awaits Cyrilic alphabet soup.
Devilishly hard decision. I agree that the two seem inseparable, and this is an unfair contest. I seem to remember there have been unfair contests in previous Lenten seasons. Nevertheless, i will vote for the older, presumed leader, who also must have been quite humble to encourage the younger brother to such creative work as inventing the alphabet, and because the bio was better written, in my opinion. So a vote for Methodius is my choice, but only by a hair!
Methodius had the greatest challenge with several siblings to convince his younger brother to convert with such devotion and dedicate his life to one of service. Perhaps Methodius will come to his younger brother’s rescue later in the competition to have BOTH equally acknowledged in the brackets. My vote is for Methodius — the first to adopt a life in the faith and the influencer of his little brother.
Methodius was obviously an introvert (“Quiet and without fanfare…”) and we introverts tend to get the short end of the stick even though it is usually our quiet thoughtful reasoning of which great decisions are made. I’ll bet that when it came to deciding what to call the alphabet, Methodius deferred to his kid brother and said “Name it after him.” Having lots of Slavic blood in my veins and also having 2 brothers, I am hoping for a tie. But since I can’t vote for both, my vote this time went to the introvert.
I like the way you think! 🙂
I think there is a good possibility that Methodius would still be sitting in his comfortable monastery if Cyril hadn’t come along and shaken things up. I think Methodius was the Samwise to Cyril’s Frodo. Which one should we seek to emulate? I will ponder all these things in my heart.
Interesting things to ponder. Or was Methodius the Gandalf to Cyril’s Frodo?
My late and well-loved father-in-law was a Methodist pastor, so I had to vote for St. Methodius.
On second thought — perhaps — Cyril will win in the end — afterall we have the Cyrillic alphabet not the Methodious alphabet
Is there such a thing as a write-in vote?
DANG my Cyrillic keyboard is on my iPhone not my tablet — or I would have illustrated Cyril’s contribution (no doubt with Methodius’ influence and guidance)
Voted due to my husband’s having had an Uncle Cyril.
I guess the SEC wanted to complicate the only Saturday vote in this madness! Too much coffee, not enough wine? I refuse to vote!
–SEC, stop the madness! Or not…
Charles and John Wesley were paired in the first round of 2014, and Charles went on to win the halo. I don’t know which of them was the older brother. The oldest and youngest of a large brood is an interesting pairing. I’ll bet Methodius was like a surrogate Dad to young Cyril. And outlived him. What a shame. As one firstborn, I cast my pair of pigeons for Methodius.
I completely agree that it would have made much sense to offer these two as one. From our vantage point, their stories are basically the same. So do you vote for the one who went to Glory first, or to the one who spent more time in his life on Earth? What they did *together* is commendable.
Looking at the photograph of the two brothers together, I voted for the handsome one.
I like cyril because he translated the bible for the people to understand
Excellent reason, Oliver
Well-reasoned decision, Oliver.
Methodius, because he was the older brother and thus likely influenced Cyril. Also because I have a brother (R.I.P.) and son named Michael.
Cyril –you never know how the youngest stir thing up and get things done!
The first Feb 14 that rolled around after I started dating a scholar of Classics and Medieval Slavic, I received a lovely bouquet of roses with a card, “Happy Cyril & Methodius Day!”
How could I help but marry this man?
And every year, on Feb. 14th, we celebrate in their honor~ for us, their feast day is a commemoration of family love and unity.
Let’s just check the results before voting (you can by clicking on View Results)
and keep them tied up all day.
They could then advance together!
Voting for whichever has fewer votes right now.
C&M for the tie!!!
What a lovely story! I shall follow your suggested voting strategy because these brothers worked together and should be remembered that way.
Attempted to vote for Methodius because he is lesser known to those not in Eastern Europe. The Internet did not like my vote and it may have looked like two votes for Methodius. Please don’t kick me out– no voter fraud intended.
Who is responsible for the match-ups this year? 30 lashes with a wet noodle to the SEC for pitting brothers against each other. We see too much of that in everyday life–especially in this election year. Posting from my moral high ground.
As a 100% Slovak descent, I’m happy to see the Slavic Saints get their due recognition. Either outcome is a victory over Valentine, the feast day pretender. Now soothe your conflicted souls by listening to the Glagolitic Mass by renowned Slavic composer Leo’s Janacek!
Excellent suggestion! Thanks!
Na zdravie!
Dakujem
Voting for Methodius because he had already started his mission so he helped Cyril along the way, kind of like the good samaritan. Go big brother
Well, this is certainly the mistake in the Amish quilt that lets the devil out and shows that the SEC is NOT the all knowing, all powerful committee that they would like us to think they are. Cyril and Methodius — they are like love and marriage, that go together like a horse and carriage — you can’t say one without the other — as the two biographers for today show. Neither can tell the story of their biographee with out mentioning the other brother!
What the biographer of Methodius does not mention is the illustrious and difficult career of Methodius after the death of Cyril in Rome c. 867 a.d. (he is buried in the Church of San Clemente in Rome, just up the street from the Colosseum). Methodius went back to Moravia and was persecuted for his work among the Slavs. Eventually, he came back to Rome and received the approval for the use of the Slavic Liturgy and Gospel translations from no less a luminary than Pope John VIII, who said, “It is a good thing that people should hear the Gospel and the Liturgy in their Native tongues,” a citation preserved in the Church Slavonic Live of Methodius, though not, apparently, in the Vatican itself. Would that the Church had remembered these words when it came to Jan Hus and William Tyndale five centuries later. For further information on these two brothers, I suggest you consult Francis Dvornik’s classic best selling history, “Byzantine Missions Among the Slavs.”
My wife and I solve the dilemma of voting by each voting for one of the brothers, who should never have been separated in this travesty of Lent Madness voting – certainly a nadir for the SEC from which we hope they soon recover.
Thanks for this further illumination on Methodius. Fascinating!!! Can’t believe that the See reversed its position on the use of non-Latin languages. How sad for those later linguistic pioneers.
Excellent comments and excellent solution.j
The SEC and/or today’s Celebrity Blogger need a geography lesson. Thessalonica is most definitely not in “present day Macedonia.” The city, properly called Thessaloniki, remains where it has always been, in Greece. It is the capital of Greek Macedonia, a region of the Greek Republic.
This was hard, as the work of the two brothers seem inseparable. However, I voted for Cyril for two r reasons: Since the alphabet they devised took the name of Cyril, it would appear to me that he was the more influential. Also (and this is almost as bad as casting lots) I have no Michaels in my immediate family whereas I have 3 Cyrils. Good a reason as any in this most unfair matchup.
It’s tough to choose between brothers, but today my daughters and I all chose Methodius, because he continued to share the gospel even after his beloved brother passed away. I love that the brothers served God together!
These biographies give us precious little to separate the two brothers, so I resorted to an outside source in order to make my final decision. My vote goes to Cyril for his work as a scholar and missionary to the Middle East.
Toss-up, really. Where is the SEC Rulebook on instances such as this? I mean, c’mon, who made the first – and last – down in this showdown? I voted for Methodius because, after all, there is something to be said for persistence over long-er time. By the fact that the Cyrillic alphabet and code are known to even this woeful historian of ancient times, gave me pause. Always for the undersog, however. Plus, Methodius, stayed in the Slavic area and was now wooed to reside in Rome. Good move to stay local.
Some of these commentators (like Davis who started it all) should be promoted to the SEC.
Okay – so now I’m really embarrassed! I commented on the wrong feed at first! My first try at Lent Madness! This was my comment re Cyril vs. Methodius: ” Two brothers! A difficult decision when both are mentioned in each other’s biographies to boot! I voted for Methodius simply because he was the eldest and surely had some influence over his younger brother. ??? I would rather have voted for both, but alas, not to be. This is my first year of Lent Madness – mercy, the suspense!” Oops …
Worry not! And welcome to our mad, mad world!
After much internal debate, I finally chose Methodius, if only because he was the eldest and probably had to help raise his youngest sibling and then had to experience Cyril’s death and still keep on in the faith and their shared purpose.
Wow! Wake-up comments today!! Agreed with many about pitting brothers, especially two who worked so faithfully together; did think of not voting, but finally settled on Methodious.
Thanks all for thoughtful, clever and challenging comments and to our GRAND(IOUS) SEC for expanding my thinking!!
I have never encountered these two where they weren’t together. My vote went to Methodius. Time for him to get a bit of glory. Cyril got the alphabet named for him after all.
I voted for Methodius for a very scientific reason – I am the baby of the family and so is he!
This seems to be an unfair choice! It is like asking a Mother to choose her favorite son! A the Mother of 2 son’s I can say I love them BOTH equally but in different ways as they are 2 individuals. BOO on the Executive Council for making this match and forcing a choice. (I almost feel like Sophie in “Sophie’s Choice”.)
Sophie’s Choice! Great analogy!
Sibling rivalry? Who knows what went on back in the 9th century, right now it’s in our minds! But, at least the “battle” is o’er – just think if they had ended up meeting for the Golden Halo!
And once again I protest the not voting response!
Come on SEC how the neck can you put one brother against another without giving much information on either? I ended up going with Cyril but honestly don’t know why. I was brought up in a Byzantine Catholic Church and I suppose something about Cyril stuck in my head from catechism. This just wasn’t fair.
Cyril vs. Methodius? That’s like Abbot vs. Costello. Sounds like sibling rivalry. I agree with the widely stated opinion that they should have run as a team, since they ministered as a team. I went with Cyril because, in the event of indecision, I always go for the underdog, and because he invented the precursor of the Cyrillic alphabet. (Janáček wrote a Glagolitic Mass, so called although the text is in Old Church Slavonic.)
Quietly and without fanfare got me. A refreshing change from what we’re dealing with these days.
OK, Cyril had an alphabet named for him, but his brother’s name lives on in the United Methodius Church.
Really? Brothers? I agree with the comments above concerning this match up. However, I once visited the monastery in Slovakia reputed to have been the place where Cyril (no mention of Methodius) developed the alphabet the bears his name. I’m going for Cyril.
I voted for Methodius, and concur with Davis’s comment. But it truly is madness to pit two inseparable brothers against each other this early in the bracket.
Choosing between brothers!!! Come on! Finally, not willing to skip a day,
(my temptation!) I went with the older brother Methodius. Just assume he had something to do with younger brother Cyril’s awakening to mission and ministry. Have an older brother myself who enlightened my path.
As the mother of two brothers, I can’t imagine having to choose one son over the other. Therefore, in honor of Methodius and Cyril’s mother (who must have been a pretty special lady to raise not one, but two, saints), I must respectfully, regretfully abstain today.
As my paternal grandparents were from Slovakia I was pleased to see Cyril and Methodius listed. But even though my brother’s name is Michael I had to go with Cyril. The younger brother deserves the recognition.
Classic 8 vs 9 seed matchup. Kind of like watching two small schools fight to play Kentucky in the second round. This one has more the feel of a play in game though. Ultimately I went for Methodius. Since my name is Michael, and there was a quick reference in there.
I am the oldest of my siblings – always handling a lot of responsibilities while the younger sibs got more benefits – like having an alphabet named after them. So I go with the older sibling – always working hard and not getting the recognition. Go Methodius!
Touché! As the oldest of four, I can relate!
I voted for Methodius because his ministry seems to have been longer, though reading the comments I am particularly swayed on the argument of younger siblings and regretting somewhat my hasty decision. Ah well.
Like Cricket, our household celebrates the two brothers’ feast as our engagement anniversary, but I voted for Methodius because i’m an eldest, and because Cyril already has an alphabet.
Can’t help feeling that as the older brother who outlived Cyril, Methodius would implore us to vote for Cyril, so I did.
Cruel, cruel SEC! Pitting one brother against another, carrying sibling rivalry across the centuries! Woe is us!
As an older sibling myself, I was compelled to vote for Cyril, who appears to be taking a drubbing – as we older siblings often do in order that the younger ones might have some advantage later in life. So there!
The SEC is messing with us. Extra info in Holy Women, Holy Men helped me choose Methodius. The fact that I am an older sister had absolutely nothing I do with it.
I’ve been thinking about this all night… How did Jesus have time to pick a replacement for Judas? Things moved pretty fast there at the end. Can you shed some light?
This Cyrius and Methodial matchup forced me to Google. Funny that the alphabet was called Cyrillic “after Cyril” when his name was Constantine all his life — he only took the name Cyril after he entered the monstery — and then he died 50 days later. So the alphabet should have been called Constantinic? Anyway I voted for Cyril because he only had his name for 50 days.
It’s cruel to have to choose between two brothers who were both adventurous, brave, intelligent, and holy. I voted for Methodius simply because I’m the oldest sibling, but my hope is he and Cyril can achieve a tie in the contest. They were a team for so long, not fair to separate them now.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Clemente_al_Laterano
This is the link to information about the Basilica in Rome where St. Cyril and St. Methodius are buried. There is a shrine to them there.
The brothers are enshrined together.
If you get to Rome, the Basilica of San Clemente is worth a visit.
I went to my trusty “Holy Women, Holy Men” book and read the additional information there about both saint brothers. Reading that Methodius was continually harassed by the Germanic bishops who were opposed to the brothers’ teaching, preaching and writing in the common language of the people (Slavonic) reminded me of the opposition of other Christian leaders in more recent history. That Methodius was imprisoned, eventually released, and continued and completed a Slavonic translation of the Bible in the face of great harassment won my vote for the elder brother.
I wish the Maddness write up had that information in it as well.
I am casting a protest vote for Methodius since I think the two should have been included together, and since I always root for the underdog! Methodius in my madness as well!
Being an oldest child, I always vote for the oldest child. We are so unfairly treated. Always doing the hard work, subjected to unbearable scrutiny while the younger just whizzes through getting all the glory.
Well, do Lord, deliver me. It’s Saturday and we don’t vote on Saturday…as a rule. The SEC has run amok as far as I can see by pitting brothers one against the other. Some amongst us are refusing to vote but I NEVER abstain from voting as too many paid too dear a price for my right to vote. However, it is Saturday and the SEC is invoking some form of MADNESS and I am just going to take an early nap-i-poo and muddle through the rest of the day and not worry about it. On Cyril and Vixen and Dasher et al.
Good to see you back here, aleathia (dolores?). 😉
(Seriously, we missed you last year….)
I’m glad to have read about Methodius. Everyone seems to know about Cyril and the alphabet. I’m thoroughly enjoying the morning emails, thanks so much for the thoughtful fun.
Like everyone else, I found this a difficult decision. Voting on the basis of older/younger did not seem like a good way to choose since their birth order was beyond their control. About half-way through reading the comments, I decided that I would go with Oliver. Sure enough, Oliver presented an acceptable reason for his choice. Therefore I voted for Cyril.
If there is any justice, this will end in a tie, and both brothers will advance in the Heavenly Brackets. I’m assuming Cyril as the better-known of the two will get plenty of votes. I therefore am voting for Methodius. He is the older brother, after all.
I chose Methodius since he had joined the Monastery before Cyril and likely led him. The way they went. Very diabolical for the SEC to make us choose between two brothers with the same notable accomplishments
What Davis said is exactly correct.
But – since we must choose, it’s Cyril, because long long ago, Eric Berne, the psychoanalyst who founded Transactional Analysis, often used the nom de plume of Cyprian St Cyr.
How’s that for a stretch?
I felt like Solomon with this vote today! He couldn’t cut a baby in half and I had trouble dividing these two. My vote went to Cyril – God seems to favor the younger sibling. (And I, the eldest…sigh!)
Hi Noel, good to see you!
I like the idea of a tie — stranger things have happened!
I understand that it’s not allowed, but today would have been a good day for every single voter to have voted twice — once for each brother. That way there would have been a tie and both could have gone on together to the next round. Oh well.
I confess that I was leaning toward Methodius anyway because I am the older sibling. Then I noticed that Cyril’s Celebrity Blogger is Hugo Olais, who already has Absalom Jones. That convinced me — a vote for Methodius.
Sorry – Hugo Olaiz.
Don’t like that you are making us take sides on these two saints who are brothers and worked together in life. It doesn’t feel right to divide them,like asking a parent to vote on which son is her favorite. 😉
I tossed a coin as I felt they both deserved the vote. How can we pick one brother over the other. They both deserved myvote as they were both instrumental in bringing the faith to people.
How can I pick between two guys who are so inseparable they share a Wikipedia page?
Also, I believe their Slavic liturgy was the first authorized liturgy in the vernacular?
Well, no. Greek, Latin, Coptic, Syriac. Aramaic, and probably more were all vernaculars when liturgies appeared in those languages. Oh, I forgot Geez.
I agree that there is no good reason to vote for one or the other of these two brothers who worked together so long and faithfully. From this point – a thousand years after later – we just don’t know enough about them to make good a choice. So for no good reason, but a logical one, I voted for the older brother. Why? Because I’m the oldest sibling in our family.
Ridiculous matchup with nearly identical biographies! I just voted for the one who came first in alphabetical order.
I thought putting Charles and John Wesley was bad, but at least they didn’t start out that way.
What were you thinking???
Today, indeed, there is a “hostile and divided people.” It is us, the LM voters! So, it’s okay for the collect (beautifully written, by the way) to cover both Cyril and Methodius, but it isn’t okay for the brothers to be combined as a single entrant?!? SEC, what are you thinking? Don’t answer that…
Madness abounds, so I am voting for a little Methodius in the madness.
Nothing like a bowl of cold borscht after voting.
So am I supposed to choose the name(s) I like better (Cyril/Constantine) or whose picture (Methodius/Michael)? Which is less superficial? #TheyAre(Almost)TheSame #NotFair #ThisIsMadness
After doing additional reading, even though Cyril had an alphabet named after him and became a priest while Methodius remained “only” a deacon until 867/8, I’m voting for Methodius who continued the work alone and was imprisoned for 2 1/2 years.
Methodius has a longer beard. BOOM! Tie broken.
(That comment was supposed to be about six laughing emojis.)
I am in a dilemma (the choice between two equal alternatives). Wonder if the disciples were in the same dilemma in choosing a successor to Judas? Guess the only way to solve it is to use their method. Cast my lots…Methodius was chosen.
Oldest sister here who just voted for lttle brother. It’s not about me, right? I know Methodius was blessed by his brother, in death as well as in life. I know he would want a tie to honor their unity, their ministry, their life together.
Also, as a mom of 2 boys, I wonder why their mom was not part of the matronly meltdown. Really now, councils on beatification should consider C&M’s mother, who was able to raise 2 male infants to manhood without envy, guile, murder, or theft. She should be offered for consideration of sainthood.
Step one-flip a coin; Methodius. Step two-reread the bios looking for something to justify the result. Methodist was there before Cyril and he stayed after his brother died. They both developed the now named Cyrillic alphabet denying Methodius credit. I propose the SEC devote its efforts toward renaming the alphabet Methtallica.
Haha!
The two were a team, working for the same cause. It doesn’t seem right to pit one against the other. However, I voted for Cyril, for the sole reason that he was the youngest in the family. It is a solidarity issue — us often overlooked babies of the family have to stick together!
The only reason I voted for Methodius is he lived longer………..not a good reason, but had to find something.
I.can’t believe this educational tool, Lent Madness, missed out on the opportunity to tell two DIFFERENT stories!! I was fascinated by this early story of using the language of the people in services and studies. But was disappointed to find it was the only story I would hear today!
This is hardly a fair match. I expect more thoughtfulness from the Supreme Executive Committee. What do we pay them for?
Well, I have to agree with previous comments. Pitting against each other these two brothers who walked together stride by stride — SEC, what were thinking? But as Lent Madness being what it is, utter madness, and I have to choose ONE to vote, I voted for Methodius. My decision is based on the fact that Cyril became a monk and croaked, copping out and leaving his brother to finish their work alone.
So there you go — you have my vote.
I’m a younger brother, so I’m going with Cyril – also he had the alphabet named after him. Hopefully the voting today can end in a tie and leave the SEC no choice but to keep the brothers together to then next round.
Being the youngest child in the family you are always under the shadow of your older siblings and there is often rivalry. My vote is for Cyril because he did not let being the youngest get in the way of his calling and actually got along with his oldest brother.
My method: closed my eyes and pointed.
This would be a great pair to throw our way on April Fool’s Day!
My vote goes to Cyril, because he was the first to enter the monastery. Other than that, how is anyone supposed to make a decision?
I agree they should stand as one unit. For whatever reason Cyril seemed to be the favourite early on — accounts say the crowds called for his canonization but apparently not his brother’s. But still it took almost a 1000 years to canonize them. They share feast dates and are listed together.
This is not an easy decision. I feel they should be combined and go forth as the dynamic duo they have been thru history.
Since I am forced to choose I picked Cyril. By all accounts he mastered both Hebrew and Arabic. I respect that as I am still working on both and have been for years. A lightweight reason to be sure but there it is.
Reading all the comments thus far, I have concluded that a) you have to have thick skin to be a celebrity blogger (good job, CBs!), b) there are a lot of us eldest siblings in the LM community, and c) nothing, no nothing, will ever induce me to give up my sacred right to VOTE!
Thanks, Susan!
OK, Leslie – Methodius had the longer beard because he was OLDER. How about the fact that Cyril’s miter fit better?
I abstain.
I can’t vote today. I think the brothers were “joined at the hip” and I won’t do the surgery to separate them.
Sheesh…
Since Methodius and Cyril were the eldest and youngest of 7 brothers, I have to wonder….were there Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?
Very funny, Susanka!
I am the youngest of 7 so Cyril it is.
A cruel choice, pitting brother against brother! My vote goes to Cyril because he is the underdog today and in honor of Sister Mary Cyril of the Community of St. Mary, who helped shape my spirituality long ago.
Methodius. Nothing like a little family drama!
Really now! Promoting sibling rivalry where none seems to have existed? Shame on you.
Reading all the replies was entertaining and educational, but not helpful.
Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. Alas, I cannot vote today.
This is a team so I will not vote for either. Poor choice of matching and you should move them on together.
I can just see the SEC snickering and giggling and guffawing at all these comments since this is just what they wanted. Lots of comments and thoughts and Lent Maddness involvement——-what a great idea!
And I’m so sad for all the people who are taking this way too seriously and abstaining from voting.
Wow, this was hard! Brother v. Brother, although they had a shared ministry. I voted for whom I thought was the obvious choice, but turns out he’s the underdog! Team Cyril!
As an only child, female, I have no reason to identify with either the elder or the younger brother. As a United Methodist clergy, retired, I vote for Methodius.
Oldest sibling for oldest sibling- plus a childhood in the Methodist church!
I agree that it’s nuts to pit these two against each other. So I voted for Cyril, who was behind in the voting, with the (probably vain) hope that it’ll end in a tie.
This is indeed a fiendish match-up! I voted for Methodius as the elder assuming that he influenced Cyril’s decision to enter the monastery.
I recommend Monnica moving onto the second round as a solution to the two brothers dilemma.
good idea
So conflicted–the part of me that likes to honor the underdog and the quiet ones is fighting with the part that says “underdogness” is not a truly reasonable qualification. So in the end I had to vote for Cyril. What an amazing mind that created that mysterious alphabet! And making scripture and worship accessible to the masses is what it means to share the Gospel and faith!
Rather than repeating the brother -vs- brother theme that pitted the Wesleys of prior year against each other, why not a brothers -vs- brothers dual; Cyril and Methoious -vs- John and Charles. A challenge of brothers in arms.
That’s a terrific idea, Duke!
Tough choice. Next up: Jesus vs Christ. Athens vs Sparta. Lennon vs McCartney. Lenin vs Trotsky. Coke vs Pepsi. Where does the Madness end??
I choose to appoint a Superdelegate to vote in place of me today.
Methodius because he was the oldest. We all need to stick together
This contest definitely went into overtime . . . several overtimes!
Again, well said Davis Dassori, Since you cannot vote for both, I am voting for the eldest, Methodius. I am going to assume(not good to assume) that Methodius was an influence on Cyril
Really? You put brothers who worked as a team against each other? Not fair. Just sayin’
Not voting today. Their ministry was together.
Carolyn Mack and I think alike. In this impossible “choice” I’m going for Methodius. His brother got the alphabet named after him…Methodius deserves the win in this Madness!
It all rather depends what you mean by “the church” : those of us who follow the 1662 BCP and its derivatives, such as our current Canadian prayer book – do indeed have the black-letter day of S. Valentine on the 14 (though obviously not this year).
Thinking of birth order and family dynamics, that Methodius was oldest and Cyril the youngest, thinking of the quiet leadership Methodius exercised in his ministry, and likely his family–wondering about the other five brothers and how they were influenced by both C and M, that M was a monk, was recognized by the Pope and ordained, and lived long beyond Cyril to continue his witness and ministry. Voting for Methodius.
You’re asking us to choose between two brothers? As a mother of two, how can my experience in life prepare me for this dilemma. Sophie’s choice.
After much deliberation I went with Methodius…only because he was the elder brother ant that’s not a good reason, but there it it.
How is it even possible to vote when the saints were in ministry together and the write ups are practically identical? My only options are to vote for both or not vote. Though the Supreme Exec essentially broke the rules of Lent Madness order by putting two people with the same bio against each other, I will abide by the rules and not cast a vote.
An impossible choice. I voted for Methodius simply because he was the elder brother and as compensation for Cyril’s getting to have his name attached to the alphabet which derives from the brothers’ work.
The feast of SS. Cyril and Methodius is the anniversary of my ordination, so I carry a certain devotion to these brothers. Heartily agree that they might have been presented together in fraternal collegiality, as the exercised their ministry that way. Voting, though reluctantly, for one of them.
This is wonderful! Clearly in life these brothers were close and shared everything, even to their means of acting on their devotion to God. Whoever wins this match will take his brother with him. As an eldest sibling, I know that it is hard to give up on “babying” the younger sibs and letting them have all the glory, and I doubt that Methodius would care that their alphabet was named after his younger brother. My decision is based on the new knowledge that Cyril is the origin of the Cyrillic alphabet, so he gets my vote, knowing he will share the honor with his older brother.
I abstain. It is impossible for me to decide. Maybe if their mother could tell me who was her favorite child, it would be easier to decide, but that wouldn’t be fair. UNFAIR!!!
A hard choice. I hope my choice will not cause me nightmares, but alas I vote for Cyril the younger of the bros.
After all the Cyrillic alphabet was named for him. I think he put the most work into developing it and getting the pope to approve it. Who doesn’t love another language that doesn’t use the Arabic letters designed to baffle English speakers. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Given the number of people who feel this is an unfair match-up, may I make the following evil suggestion:
1. Before casting your vote, see who is losing. (I didn’t realize you could see the results before voting until someone mentioned it in one of the posts.)
2. Vote for the person with fewer votes.
3. Once there is a tie, nobody else vote.
4. The two brothers will then advance together to the next round.
(Aren’t you glad I do not work at a polling place!)
Simon, I followed steps 1 and 2. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that step number 3 will occur, since it depends on the voters a) realizing that they can check to see who is winning and b) reading comments long enough to read your post (or all coming up with the same idea on their own). I would love to see step number 4 be the result, but I won’t hold my breath.
I don’t think it’s a fair contest to have the two brothers compete against each other when they accomplished establishment of the Cyrillic alphabet and their missionary work amongst the Slavs together. There’s almost nothing to distinguish them. It’s a very contrived competition and unfair to the loser due to the arbitrariness of the selection between them.
Today represents a tough decision: two brothers whose lives were so entwined. Should they have been allowed to battle each other with such similar biographies? I voted for Methodius, because he had been around longer. But it was tough to draw this conclusion!
Sometimes when I cast my ballot in political campaigns I really don’t want either candidates. Both may be losers in my opinion. But, I vote because it is my right. Those of you who sit out today are disenfranchising someone who might be great. Please reconsider and vote.
Cyril and (not vs.) Methodius were favorites of mine when studying church history and splitting them up is insensible. So, just as one person voted for Methodius because he was the older, I voted for Cyril because I’m the youngest in my family. Perhaps this will help even out the vote. I’m all for a tie. Then we can say “Take that, SEC heartless swine!”
Very difficult choice. I chose Cyril in honor of Sr. Cyril , my high school teacher who Struck fear in her freshman students, but who taught me how to diagram sentences, thus tying in with the alphabet in some odd way.
While I’ll use a methodi(us)cal approach, I”m not saying it’s a good one. First, there must be SOME reason that it was named the Cyrillic alphabet and not the Methodical alphabet. Second, Cyril was the younger brother, and as the youngest of seven I must stand up for all the youngers out there. So I’m going with Cyril.
And a shared Collect, no less…
I agree….this one is a “chicken or egg” dilemma. How to resolve it? I’ve known a lot of guys named Methodius (Michael), but only one with the moniker, Cyril. Mine is actually a sympathy vote for the younger Cyril, who not only had to endure an older brother, but had to live with that name as well.
Today’s comments are rightfully critical of the SEC. Forcing a coin flip or worse is no way to honor two deserving saints. I choose not to add to your record vote totals today.
Yeah, it makes as much sense as asking us to pick our favourite of the 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste.
As indicated above, this was a tough one. Their stories are more alike than the Wesley brothers. Since it looks like most have chosen Methodius for various sketchy/slim reasons,
I am giving my vote to Cyril, The vote should reflect their closeness, and Cyril could not help dying first, thereby cutting his ministry short.
You cannot force me to vote for one of these two brothers. Together or not at all. Loved to visit the church in Lebanon PA devoted to both, on Holy Thursday ‘way back when that was the thing to do in the Catholic Church. My children used to wonder why it was so much prettier than our own parish – all that lovely color!!!
I can’t believe anyone who has been here before is surprised. Didn’t we have two brothers named Welesly just a couple of years ago and one of those brothers went on for the Golden Halo? You may recall that they were even Methodists! Enough said.
After thought: All you lovers: Happy Saint Valentine’s Day tomorrow!
Really? Two brothers who worked together and did the same thing. How is anyone supposed to make any kind of discriminating choice? In the end the only thing the voter can do is to flip a coin (mentally or physically) and pick one, the final vote tally ends up being essentially meaningless as there is no reasonable way to make a distinction!
I actually thought (when I saw the bracket) that this would be an easy decision because I thought Cyril would be either Cyril of Jerusalem or Cyril of Alexandria, imagine my shock to find that it’s Cyril the philosopher. That being said I decided there are too many Cyril’s and went with Methodius
Why, oh WHY, would you put two brothers up against each other, when their accomplishments are tied so closely together?
I’m voting for Cyril, mostly because this name is the same origin as the Russian Orthodox Patriarch who met with Pope Francis yesterday.
I thought the same thing, Cindy!
Very hard to take this day’s contest cyriously.
Hahahaha!
Not a difficult choice at all! And I commend the SEC for their wisdom in this exciting match-up. (insert evil laugh here).
I have detected many “strange” pairings in the years I have been playing Lent Madness. But as has been already said, it is madness and not logic. I voted for Methodius because I had never heard of him!
Good one, Alliee!!!!
Sort of like choosing between Peyton and Eli Manning. In both cases, I must go with the older brother, in this case, Methodius.
Hard decision to make as they certain both were outstanding missionaries. However, being the youngest sibling of the family, I know that no matter what I accomplish in life, I’ll still be the ‘baby’ in the family! And we babies must stick together!! Therefore, Cyril gets my vote.
This match up is not really fair as many have pointed out.
I voted for Methodius since Cyril got to name the alphabet. So there!
It would have been harder to vote had the alphabet been name the Cyrilic Method 🙂
As Cyril has already overturned ‘the first shall be last and the last first’ I cast my vote to redress the balance in the older brother’s favour. I do like the idea of a joint entry though, very difficult to separate two who chose not to be separated in life.
I’m disappointed in the write up about Methodius, in that it makes no mention of the great difficulties he encountered after Cyril’s death. According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, he was put in charge of an a ecclesiastical province that included all of Moravia. But … “When Rostislav’s nephew and successor, Svatopluk, failed to support Methodius, he was tried in 870 by the German clergy, brutally treated, and jailed until liberated by the intervention of Pope John VIII. In 880 Methodius was again summoned to Rome about the Slavic liturgy, obtaining once more papal approval of his use of the vernacular.
“When Methodius’s suffragan bishop, Wiching, continued to make trouble by advocating for use of the Latin liturgy, Methodius tried to strengthen his position in the Eastern church by visiting Constantinople in 882. After Methodius’s death, Pope Stephen V (or VI) forbade the use of the Slavonic liturgy. Wiching, as Methodius’s successor, forced the disciples of Cyril and Methodius into exile.”
Betrayed by your own suffragan! For grace under extreme pressure, I vote for Methodius.
So also looking at other sources, before joining his brother, Cyril was the official librarian of the Hagia Sophia and taught philosophy at the imperial university He was also sent to the Arabian caliph’s court to discuss theology. Cyril declined governorship in favor of priesthood.
It is still a tough call, but at least we have some differentiation.
Vote as your heart so moves! Hang “fair”
As the oldest, I feel for Methodius. And think if Methodius had gone on to a different profession his little brother may not have gone on to the monastery…
In another commentary on the brothers, it says Methodius was so grief stricken by Cyril’s death that he also wanted to retire to a monastery. However, Cyril’s dying wish was that he carry on their work – which he apparently did admirably. So, my vote for Methods is a vote for the two of them together
Dear SEC,
I want to register my complaint about not only today’s smackdown of brother vs. brother (I am abstaining), but pitting Mathias vs. Absalom Jones. I do not like the matching of two people that leads to a landslide victory of one over the other. I vastly prefer match-ups of two saintly individuals that lead to nail biting and considerable thought before the selection of a saint. I think you have done a poor job with today’s and yesterday’s smackdowns.
I agree with you.
I much prefer the more equal match ups, especially in the early rounds. I remember a few match-ups in previous lent madness sessions that made me question whether or not I really wanted to participate. The whole thing seemed skewed towards one result from the beginning. It IS madness, after all, method (Methodius) or not…
I’m new to this and loving it. It is good to be reminded of ‘saints’ and not so ‘saints’. I tend to be for the under-dog so far on each of the days.
I remember reading in an earlier LentMadness post that the Supreme Exectutives were hoping to generate more comments during the voting this season. I think this bracket succeeded and maybe this was their intent. I am thoroughly enjoying reading the comments this bracket generated.
This is supposed to be fun and faith formational.
Obviously, God loves all these saints because God is good. Not because we are good.
Because of Christ, they are all winners.
So there is no real competition here.
I thank the SEC for putting this all together
Peace!
You are absolutely right! Despite what I wrote below, I am truly grateful for Lent Madness!
Right (or is it write) on! Davis. Totally unfair instilling yet another sibling rivalry.
Peace indeed, Tim. There have been some truly tetchy moments in the past, but I think this discussion is all in good humor, including the rants against the SEC and certainly my own. Tim Schenck is my friend and rector, and while I enjoy rattling his cage I would never knowingly offend him.
Wow! Many great minds thinking alike as I too thought it would be better to have the two brothers together (even imagined what their golden halo mug would look like), alas. Gentlemen of the SEC, you seem to have much to answer for — mom against mom, yesterday’s unfair match-up, and now brother against brother (and while I am at it, how did Dietrich Bonhoeffer escape the ineligible list?). That being said, a couple more tidbits about the brothers (and I apologize if repeating, couldn’t read all 300 comments). Cyril is reported to have said to the pope: “Do not all breathe the air in the same way? And you are not ashamed to decree only three languages (Hebrew, Greek and Latin); deciding that all other peoples and races should remain blind and deaf? Tell me: do you hold this because you consider God is so weak that he cannot grant it, or so envious that he does not wish it?” And, as he lay dying, he said to his brother: “Behold, my brother, we have shared the same destiny, ploughing the same furrow; I now fall in the field at the end of my day. I know that you greatly love your Mountain; but do not for the sake of the Mountain give up your work of teaching. For where better can you find salvation?” These words are reported in the book “Saints” by Scot Bower and he also described the great opposition Methodius suffered. For carrying on instead of retreating to comfort, I vote for Methodius (and Cyril did have the alphabet named for him, after all).
Nice addition to the information, Diane, especially the quote by Cyril, who evidently was not afraid to speak truth to power. A typical, wonderful “little brother” trick! I voted for Methodius because he influenced his younger brother, but actually the Church is right to celebrate them together.
Oh, Diane, you have brought to my eyes the first Lenten tears of the year. That was lovely.
Occasionally, a poster will bring into the thread some comment on contemporary politics into what is otherwise delightful threads. Could I please request that we put aside our political differences as we unite in our love of the Saintly?
There’s little basis on which to choose one over the other here.
My vote went to Methodius because:
– I myself am an oldest sibling #solidarity
– As the elder, his religious vocation surely influenced his younger brother, who followed him to the monastery
– Methodius, we are told, is “Michael”, and St Michael the Archangel has been on my mind lately
I am however delighted to learn that the Cyrillic alphabet is named for a vowed religious 🙂
I also very much appreciated reading about this early example of inculturating the gospel and the liturgy by using the local language, even when this required inventing its alphabet from scratch!
Perhaps not the most pious of reasons, but I chose Cyril because I thought it was extremely cool to have an alphabet named after him.
I voted for Methodias bc he didn’t get their alphabet named for him…. once again an elder sibling gets shafted by the younger….
It’s like Sophie’s choice. Since I am a Virgo and tend to go about things methodically, I have made my choice.
I like the idea of advancing both brothers to the next round and keeping them together in the bracket.
As an elder sibling myself I had to go with the older brother in this matchup. Older kids never get their due!
On the principle that God often favors the younger brother over the older, at least in Holy Writ if not in real life, I voted for Cyril. It looks, however, as though Methodius was somewhat the more active of the two, to which I would reply that Cyril precedes Methodius in alphabetical order (which is by and large the same in both the Latin and the Cyrillic alphabets. I did learn something interesting about these brothers from the learned accounts of their almost too parallel lives: the names we know then by are the names they took on entering the monastic life, not the names given them at birth or baptism.
To the SEC – this was not a sincere contest. You had another motive. But becasue of the limitations of a game it is not a motive we can really explore. So – it was a waste of time. I did not vote.
And, the web site is not doing anothing to prevent someone from voting a second, third or more time. In the past, if one had voted earlier and then went back to the site to see how the contest was going there was no possibility of voting a second time. Now, it appears that multiple trips to the voting booth are possible.
Cruel, cruel, SEC, as so many have noted. You have invited us to participate in a kind of Lent Madness fratricide. Maybe it is a good thing that Cain and Abel are not saints.
The older significantly brother, Methodius, apparently hung out in a monastery until his little bro came along and spurred him into action and they set off together. It therefore seems the impetus to go out and make a difference in the world only came about after the youngest brother, who was well educated, put some fire under the elder brother’s quiet life. I am curious why the eldest brother was not similarly educated, as it would have been more likely to educate the eldest son. Due to Cyril’s formal education, it seems likely the alphabet was named after him because he took the lead in developing and translating.
Here’s a thought for the SEC. Regardless of who “wins,” how ’bout moving BOTH brothers to the next round, as a team. Chances are, any kitsch for one brother would probably include the other, and the celebrity bloggers could tag-team the write-ups. In the event they win the Golden Halo, the brother with the most votes in this round would have bragging rights in the great company of saints.
I couldn’t decide. So I chose Cyril because everyone else was voting for Methodius
Cyril only took that name at the very end of his life; yet he gets an alphabet named after himself. (Should have been Constantinic.) Methodius, on the other hand, survived his kid brother and led a distinguished life in church leadership in his missionary field, but with little recognition today. My vote goes to Methodius.
But we celebrate both of them on their feast day of February 14, while the heathens among us celebrate some different saint.
Since I am Orthodox and belong to a Greek Church I have to vote for Methodiou…our bishop is Metropolitan Methodios. And he’s accomplished quite a few things in his tenure as bishop.
While in Macedonia a few years ago, people in Ohrid claim that it was followers of Cyril and Methodius, Clement and Naum who actually created the alphabet. One can hope maybe they’ll make Lent Madness next year. BTW Thessalonica is the second largest city in modern Greece. It was in ancient Macedonia!
Setting one brother against the other seemed cruel and unusual madness to me But this is Lent Madness… Being an oldest sibling, I know how that goes, so in solidarity, I voted for Methodius…
If it were possible to vote for both I would. There is no sense in separating the two. Clearly they were working as a team in their ministry. I am disappointed in the SEC. Cyril is the recognizable name for me, but I cannot see that he did any more or less than his brother. No vote this round from me. It would be arbitrary.
As the eldest of six, I must support the elder brother.
As an oldest child, I know that I always do the heavy lifting and my little sibs are always on my coattails. lol So I had to go with Methodius.
I voted for Cyril because of his missionary trip to the Islamic world. He is a badly-needed model for productive theological dialogue with our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Really? Two brothers who are much the same- lack of imagination. I will not vote!
Oh this is true Lenten Madness! Pitting two brothers who performed the same mission against each other is just madness. I can hear the giggling of the SEC when they did this match-up. The write-ups make it sound like Cyril coming to the monastery is what prompted Methodius to action and missionary work over monastic life. For this reason, I voted for Cyril. I do love David’s line though.
A tough matchup – or should I say break-up? Though I have swayed between the two as I’ve read comments, in the end I am voting for Cyril both because he was willing to work equally with his little brother, and because I love Captain Hook as portrayed by Cyril Richard in the old televised version of Peter Pan.
I love the Peter Pan rationale!
The brothers are noteworthy but seriously I wonder why they are considered Saints? Don’t Saints have to have healed people, done miraculous things, talked to Jesus? I would love to hear more of their lives and agree w/ the comment that ‘twin saints’ would have been a good idea, and fun.
Dear SEC, I am having Internet problems today. I tried to vote, it did not appear to go anywhere, waited about 30 minutes, tried again, and vote went through. If, by chance, you got two votes from me, please don’t throw me out. I’m not stuffing the ballot box, just trying to exercise my Holy Lenten obligation.
So much for the Brotherly Smack-down. Cyril Richard was the absolute best light-in-your-loafers Captain Hook (which I adored), I’ve been to the Czech Republic (great country), and I was raised a Methodi-us. Gotta go with the baby brother.
OOPS….. older brother.
Cyril! I have to side with my fellow youngest child here.
I too disapprove of brother being pitted against brother in this first round. In honor of both my younger sisters who far outshine me, I’m voting for Cyril.
SEC – this was cruel. A matchup of this caliber belongs in the Elate 8 or better.
When there is so little else to go by in making a decision between two brothers, one grasps at even the quirkiest little detail. Hugo Olaiz gave us the name “Glagolitic” for the language the brothers invented, which reminded me of this wonderful composition by Leos Janacek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU2IPkoQjXI
So Cyril gets my vote.
Didn’t want to flip a coin, so I checked the list of Patriarchs of Constantinople and found 7 Cyrils and 3 Methodii…therefore my vote went to Cyril. I agree with all the comments that these two brothers should have been considered as a tag team. Could have taken on any other “holy” duo…maybe next year we could have a family feud bracket.
Oo, clever method 🙂
Cyril so virile
From Methodius’ shadow
Laurels not halo
After three years of studying Russian, and three years of Greek… I finally have my chance to express my *lack* of appreciation for Cyril’s choice of alphabets. Yes, petty… yes, I will be praying for forgiveness tomorrow… no, I will not feel guilt for being on Team Methodius. “… to my madness…” snicker…
Vote for Methodius.
His name is Melodious.
Vote at your peril,
If you vote for Cyril.
.Come on guys, you seriously can’t expect us to choose between two brothers who are nearly identical in their life stories. I nearly didn’t vote but when I did I apparently didn’t go with the popular choice. Now I’m having to rethink this whole Lenten Madness thing.
I vote for Cyril because he was the younger brother. I was the 5th of six, almost seven, children. My four older siblings never let me win at anything.
“Quietly and without any fanfare”-and for continuing the work among the Slavs after Cyril died seems to me like an act of brotherly love. Methodius in my Madness!-(Great line Davis). I am also eagerly awaiting the Cyrillic alphabet soup!
General comment – I was recently brought to this amazing Saint Smackdown by a good friend. I’m late to the game but glad to join in the fun.
As an English major, I love alliteration. Instead of “Lent Madness”, why not “Lent Lunacy”? An additional nice touch: “Lunacy” is derived from “Lunar”, Easter Day is derived from the lunar calendar (the first Sunday after the first full moon to fall on or after the Spring equinox, with the Spring equinox ecclesiastically set as 21 March – or something like that), and, of course, Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent are derived from Easter Day.
How about it? “Lent Lunacy” as the alliterative equivalent to “March Madness”?
Lent Madeness Edcaiton: This morning our rector offered a genuine Israeli shekel to anyone who could name the two saints for today, Feb. 14. I immediately raised my hand and said, “Methodius and Cyril.” There was a fair amount of shock that anyone would know. As he handed me the shekel, I said, Lent Madness. Lent Madness. After the service, a coule people asked how I’d known that, and so I pointed them to this site. Perhaps the voter pool will grow a little more now.
Love it! Now don’t go spending that shekel all in one place.
And that, my friend, is called evangelism. Well done!
I love it when education has immediate rewards!
Speaking of evangelism–one of my fellow parishioners and her husband are wanting to play Lent Madness but have only one computer. What do you suggest? (Other than buying a second computer–ain’t gonna happen.)
I agree go to your room , May God have mercy you.