Sts Cyril and Methodius Feast Day celebrations “in a new outfit” with an all-day, all-age programme at Devín Castle
- Author:
- Photo:
- Date: 25.06.2025
- Share: Zdieľať na Facebook
Bratislava's majestic Devín Castle, perched on a massive rock hill over the confluence of the Danube and Morava Rivers, will stage the Saints Cyril and Methodius Feast Day celebrations once again after a year. On Saturday 5 July 2025 – the Feast Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the SVK Government will be hosting a national event dedicated to the arrival of the two Byzantine Christian missionaries in Great Moravia in 863, at the invitation of Prince Rastislav.
This year's celebrations – held under the auspices of the SVK Government Office and organised by the SVK Defence Ministry with support from the Interior and Health Ministries – will feature several innovations. Most importantly, visitors to the national event can come down to the Bratislava Borough of Devín for an all-day programme of historical, cultural and social entertainment.
On the SVK Government's decision to open the Saints Cyril and Methodius Feast Day celebrations to members of the public across the entirety of the day at Devín Castle, Ms Karin Silberhorn, Director of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence's Office and Event Coordinator, said: “Recognising and honouring the most important landmarks in the history of Slovakia should be in all Slovak people’s basic mindset. In addition to the event’s culmination with a gala evening in the courtyard of Devín Castle, we have been engaged in preparations for an all-day festival of the Nation’s history, arts, crafts, folk traditions, ecumenism, education and period highlights, with special experiences for people of all ages. We want to make people more aware of what this feast is about – what the arrival of the missionaries has meant in terms of advancing education for the Slavs – their writing, languages, and Christianity.”
Following the example of the nationwide celebrations marking the SNP 80 National Event in Banská Bystrica and the VE Day 80 National Event in Piešťany, with the latter attracting almost 100,000 visitors, it is expected there will be great interest in joining in with the Cyrillo-Methodian celebrations at Devín Castle, designated as a National Heritage Site (NHS).
Ms Karin Silberhorn continued: “We are trying to give visitors the greatest possible comfort. Since individual transport and parking options are very limited, there will be free shuttle buses for the public to Devín, running at regular 15-minute intervals from 10:00 to 23:00. They will take you from the Nové SND bus stop via the Riviera in Karlová Ves to the Sts Cyril and Methodius bus stop, and from the parking lot at the OC Bory Mall via Devínska Kobyla to Devín. Public entry will be free and via the Northern Gate only.”
The gala evening at Devín Castle will be broadcast live on national television (STVR). There will be a large LED screen for visitors to view the programme. Devín will be open to members of the public from 11:00 to 22:00. The public will be treated to an all-day, all-age programme. Drinking water, food and drink stands, and mobile WCs will be available. Each visitor will leave the event with a memorable gift.
Here's what visitors can look forward to:
– the sights and sounds, smells and tastes of a medieval settlement where re-enactors, including skilled craftsmen, soldiers, entertainers and housewives, all dressed in period costumes, demonstrate medieval crafts, art of warfare, theatre, and cookery
– 15 stands with displays by historical re-enactment groups around the site, offering sword fighting and fencing, javelin and axe throwing, and a period horse riders' parade
– a special chance to try on medieval armour with a photo opportunity, take part in a Glagolitic script writing workshop, visit a blacksmith's workshop for a coin minting demonstration, and watch a falconry show
– two ecumenical worship services in the ruins of the historic Great Moravian Church, and chaplains presenting Sts Cyril and Methodius's mission to evangelise the Slavic peoples and establish the Slavic liturgy
– street puppet theatre shows
– whole bull roasting, bread & flatbread making with tastings all day long
– competitions, period music concerts, and lectures from ethnologist and historian Katarína Nádaská
This year's celebrations – held under the auspices of the SVK Government Office and organised by the SVK Defence Ministry with support from the Interior and Health Ministries – will feature several innovations. Most importantly, visitors to the national event can come down to the Bratislava Borough of Devín for an all-day programme of historical, cultural and social entertainment.
On the SVK Government's decision to open the Saints Cyril and Methodius Feast Day celebrations to members of the public across the entirety of the day at Devín Castle, Ms Karin Silberhorn, Director of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence's Office and Event Coordinator, said: “Recognising and honouring the most important landmarks in the history of Slovakia should be in all Slovak people’s basic mindset. In addition to the event’s culmination with a gala evening in the courtyard of Devín Castle, we have been engaged in preparations for an all-day festival of the Nation’s history, arts, crafts, folk traditions, ecumenism, education and period highlights, with special experiences for people of all ages. We want to make people more aware of what this feast is about – what the arrival of the missionaries has meant in terms of advancing education for the Slavs – their writing, languages, and Christianity.”
Following the example of the nationwide celebrations marking the SNP 80 National Event in Banská Bystrica and the VE Day 80 National Event in Piešťany, with the latter attracting almost 100,000 visitors, it is expected there will be great interest in joining in with the Cyrillo-Methodian celebrations at Devín Castle, designated as a National Heritage Site (NHS).
Ms Karin Silberhorn continued: “We are trying to give visitors the greatest possible comfort. Since individual transport and parking options are very limited, there will be free shuttle buses for the public to Devín, running at regular 15-minute intervals from 10:00 to 23:00. They will take you from the Nové SND bus stop via the Riviera in Karlová Ves to the Sts Cyril and Methodius bus stop, and from the parking lot at the OC Bory Mall via Devínska Kobyla to Devín. Public entry will be free and via the Northern Gate only.”
The gala evening at Devín Castle will be broadcast live on national television (STVR). There will be a large LED screen for visitors to view the programme. Devín will be open to members of the public from 11:00 to 22:00. The public will be treated to an all-day, all-age programme. Drinking water, food and drink stands, and mobile WCs will be available. Each visitor will leave the event with a memorable gift.
Here's what visitors can look forward to:
– the sights and sounds, smells and tastes of a medieval settlement where re-enactors, including skilled craftsmen, soldiers, entertainers and housewives, all dressed in period costumes, demonstrate medieval crafts, art of warfare, theatre, and cookery
– 15 stands with displays by historical re-enactment groups around the site, offering sword fighting and fencing, javelin and axe throwing, and a period horse riders' parade
– a special chance to try on medieval armour with a photo opportunity, take part in a Glagolitic script writing workshop, visit a blacksmith's workshop for a coin minting demonstration, and watch a falconry show
– two ecumenical worship services in the ruins of the historic Great Moravian Church, and chaplains presenting Sts Cyril and Methodius's mission to evangelise the Slavic peoples and establish the Slavic liturgy
– street puppet theatre shows
– whole bull roasting, bread & flatbread making with tastings all day long
– competitions, period music concerts, and lectures from ethnologist and historian Katarína Nádaská
