Collecting the puzzles on European history, before displaying the gallery of photos from the Olomouc Cathedral, in this post, I will focus on the origins of Christendom in Central Europe influenced by three historical figures whose statues we may seen on the Olomouc Cathedral facade, complementing my earlier texts on European history before and during the early Medieval Ages.

Key figures for indroducting Christendom in Central Europe. At the top St. Wenceslas and below Sts. Methodius (in his later years a bishop) and his brother Cyril on the facade of St. Wenceslas cathedral of Olomouc.

Great Moravia. Byzantine influence. Cyril and Methodius

The first major Slavic state in Central Europe was Great Moravia, called also the Great Moravian Empire. The exact boundaries of its territory are not clearly defined, but in the 9th century it likely encompassed parts of what are now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Poland, and Germany. Initially under the dominance of East Francia, which emerged after the split of the Carolingian Empire, Great Moravia eventually shed this influence. Seeking to strengthen his realm, Moravian Prince Rastislav requested Christian teachers from the Pope. After this request was declined, he turned to Byzantine Emperor Michael III.

The response was the arrival of the Byzantine missionaries, Greek brothers, Cyril and Methodius in Moravia in 863. Cyril and Methodius translated significant portions of the Christian scriptures and liturgical texts into Old Church Slavonic (a precursor to many Slavic languages). This new language was based on the Southern Slavic dialect spoken in the Thessalonica region, which was familiar to them. It incorporated features from several Slavic dialects to be more universally understood among different Slavic tribes. To facilitate the translation of the Bible and liturgical texts into the Slavic language, Cyril created the Glagolitic alphabet, the first known Slavic script. The appearance of the new language led to conflicts with German ecclesiastical authorities, who opposed the use of Slavic languages in liturgical services, insisting on Latin. The brothers traveled to Rome to seek approval for their Slavic liturgy. Pope Adrian II gave his approval, recognizing the Slavic liturgy and ordaining Slavic clergy.

Iterestingly, the Cyrillic script, developed later from the Glagolitic alphabet possibly by Cyril’s students, based on the Greek alphabet with additional letters to represent unique Slavic sounds, is named in honor of Cyril and is used in many Slavic and non-Slavic languages today.

Cyril and Methodius

By the end of the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century, Roman Christianity had gained a stronger foothold in Moravia. The Great Moravian Empire eventually declined and fell, and the region became part of the spheres of influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, both aligned with the Roman Catholic Church.

Bohemia. Latin influence. Wenceslas I

Meanwhile, in the western part of present-day Czech Republic, Bohemia, the Christian faith was taking root through different channels influenced by the Western (Latin) Christendom. In the strive to establish his rule, Duke Bořivoj of Bohemia, the first historically documented ruler of Bohemia, was baptized into the Latin rite between 874 and 883 AD. His conversion, alongside that of his wife Ludmila (later venerated as Saint Ludmila), marked a significant step in the religious development of the Czech lands. Their son, Vratislaus I, continued their Christian legacy, which was further advanced by his son, Wenceslas I (later Saint Wenceslas), who was the Duke of Bohemia from 921 until his assassination in 935. Raised by his grandmother Ludmila after his father’s death, Wenceslas was a devout Christian who promoted the building of churches and was widely regarded as a benevolent leader. He was assassinated in 935 at the age of 28 by nobles allied with his younger brother, Boleslaus the Cruel, due to political and religious disputes, including differing views on the influence of Christianity in the region. Wenceslas’ martyrdom led to his canonization and he is now revered as the patron saint of the Czech state.

Wenceslas I (later Saint Wenceslas)

Wenceslas’ death allowed Boleslaus to become the ruler of Bohemia, where he continued to expand its territory and influence, as well as the Christianization efforts. While, Wenceslas was traditionally portrayed as a devout Christian, Boleslaus’s approach to Christianity appeared to have been more pragmatic and politically motivated. He used Christianity as a tool for political consolidation and territorial expansion.

A notable alliance formed by Boleslaus the Cruel was with Mieszko I of Poland around 965 AD. Mieszko’s marriage to Boleslaus’s daughter, Dobrawa, was a strategic union between Bohemia and Poland. Dobrawa significantly influenced Mieszko I’s conversion to Christianity, leading to his baptism in 966 AD, an event known as the Baptism of Poland. Christianity’s spread northward was later furthered by the Kingdom of Poland, intersecting with the independent efforts of the Northern Crusades led by Germanic nobles and the Teutonic Knights, whose aim was also to widespread Christendom in Central Europe, and around the Baltics.