Gold Coin 10000 CZK Constantine and Methodius The Coming of the Magi 1oz 2013 Proof

Extraordinary mintage of gold coins - 10000 CZK Constantine and Methodius The Coming of the Magi

On the obverse side of the coin is a depiction of Prince Rastislav based on a Byzantine icon, which is placed in a frame in which the individual letters of the Glagolitic alphabet are inscribed. Above the portrait of the prince is a composition of heraldic animals from the great state emblem placed in shields - in the middle is the Czech lion, to the right of it is the Silesian eagle and to the left of it is the Moravian eagle. At the left, bottom and right edge of the coin is the name of the state "CZECH REPUBLIC" and the denomination of the coin with the abbreviation of the monetary unit "10 000 CZK". The mark of the Czech Mint, which consists of the letters 'Č' and 'M', is above the letter 'B' of the word 'REPUBLIKA'.

On the reverse side of the coin is a depiction of Constantine and Methodius rendered in the style of a Byzantine icon, which is placed in a frame in which the individual letters of the Glagolitic alphabet are inscribed. To the right and left of the depiction of the saints are the years relating to the anniversaries "863" and "2013", delimited by lines. Around the perimeter of the coin is the inscription "THE COMING OF THE CHRISTMAS OF CONSTANTINE AND METHODIA". The author of the coin is the academic painter Vladimír Pavlica. His initials, which are formed by the letters 'VP' in a frame, are above the second letter 'A' in the word 'KONSTANTINA'.

Cyril and Methodius

Saints Constantine (Cyril) and Methodius, sometimes referred to simply as the Brothers of Thessalonica, are known as the Apostles of the Slavs or also the Slavic Apostles. As part of their mission to Great Moravia, they created the Glagolitic script and established Old Slavonic as the language of worship.

Saint Constantine (Greek: Konstantinos), called Philosophus (826 or 827 in Thessaloniki - 14 February 869 in Rome), the younger of the two brothers, was a professor of philosophy in Constantinople, and entered a monastery in 855. He was only a monk, although throughout the Middle Ages both brothers were considered bishops. He re-entered the monastery before his death in Rome, where he took the religious name Cyril (Greek Kyrillos; Latin Cyrillus), by which he is better known.

Saint Methodius (Greek: Methodios; Latin: Methodius) (815 in Thessalonica - 6 April 885 in Moravia), the elder brother of Constantine, was initially a Byzantine civil servant, later a monk, deacon, and finally the first Moravian-Pannonian archbishop.

Until the mid-19th century, Saints Cyril and Methodius were commonly referred to by the Old Czech names Crha and Strachota. Crha arose from Cyril; Strachota from a mistranslation: the Greek Methodios was mistaken for the Latin metus ("fear") and translated.

Pope John Paul II declared them, along with St. Benedict and later other saints, co-patrons of Europe in 1980. The Czech Republic and Slovakia celebrate the feast of Cyril and Methodius on July 5, as do Roman Catholics in some countries. Pope Leo XIII, in his circular letter "Grande munus" of 30 September 1880, praised the merits of the holy brothers. This Pope fixed the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius on July 5, but without any obvious connection with the lives of the holy Slavic apostles and without any connection with Cyril and Methodism in general. For example, the Orthodox Church has its own day of celebration of Saints Cyril and Methodius. It is May 11 according to the Orthodox calendar, i.e. May 24 according to the civil calendar. This day is designated in all Slavic Orthodox Churches.

We know that the holy brothers from Thessaloniki came to Great Moravia in the spring of 863. According to tradition, it was on this day, May 11 or May 24. In Bulgaria, May 24 is the Day of Sts Cyril and Methodius and the Day of Slavic Culture and Education. It is a public holiday and a day of rest. Elsewhere, their feast day falls on 14 February, the date of St. Cyril's death. Cyril and Methodius are the main patrons of Moravia.