Page "Saints Cyril and Methodius" Paragraph 1

The two brothers were born in Thessaloniki – Cyril in 827 – 828 and Methodius in 815 – 820.

Cyril was reputedly the youngest of seven brothers ; he was born Constantine, but took the name Cyril upon becoming a monk shortly before his death, according to the " Vita Cyrilli " (" The Life of Cyril ").

Their father was Leo, a droungarios of the Byzantine theme of Thessaloniki, and their mother was Maria, who may have been a Slav.