The Contribution of Pope John Paul II for the Slavs in the Modern History of the Cyrilo-Methodian Cult

HROMJ & Aacute;K, & Lcaron;uboslav. The Contribution of Pope John Paul II for the Slavs in the Modern History of the Cyrilo-Methodian Cult. In this study, the author, based on the historical context of Cyrilo-Methodism in the 19th and 20th centuries, highlights the importance of Pope John Paul II for the Slavs and its importance in consolidating Cyrilo-Methodism in modern history through the publication of the papal letter Egregiae virtutis and the encyclical Slavorum apostoli. Great emphasis is placed on the contribution of John Paul II for the Slavic world by the declaration of Sts. Cyril and Methodius as patrons of Europe. Pope John Paul II contextualizes the Catholic Slavism of Leo XIII as its successor in the 20th century. By the declaration of Sts. Cyril and Methodius as patrons of Europe, according to the author, the Pope pursued two intentions: ecumenical and civilizing. He presented Sts. Cyril and Methodius in the context of Catholic Slavism as a civilizational and ecumenical bridge between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. John Paul II as the only Slavic pope on Peter's throne, he was the only one who could highlight the example of Sts. Cyril and Methodius for Western Europe, in search of Europe's spiritual roots. In this study, the author also points out the importance of the apostolic letter in the Slovak Catholic environment