tenth and at
the beginning of the eleventh century, their empire became entirely
extinct.[12] Constantine converted and baptized their Khan, whose
example was followed by a great part of the nation. It was probably
after he had returned from this mission, that Cyril went to convert
the Bulgarians. At this time, or just before, according to Dobrovsky's
opinion, he invented the Slavic letters, and translated the Gospels,
during his stay in Byzantium. This however is nothing more than an
hypothesis, against which other hypotheses have been started by other
scholars. Between A.D. 861 and 863, there came another embassy to the
emperor from the Moravian prince Rostislav, who asked for a teacher,
not only to instruct his subjects in Christianity more perfectly than
it had been done before, but also to teach them _to read_. Most of the
Moravians were already baptized. Constantine, accompanied by his
brother Methodius, was sent to Moravia, where the people received them
with expressions of joy. They introduced here the Slavic liturgy, and
preached in the Slavic language.

One peculiar circumstance served to give to their persons a more than
common sanctity. Constantine had been so fortunate as to discover in
Cherson the bones of the holy Clement, relics which he every where
carried with him. After three or four years, the pope invited the two
brethren to Rome, where the possession of these relics procured them
great honour and distinction. The pope Adrian, followed by the clergy
and people, met them and their treasure before the gates of the city.
Both the brothers were consecrated as bishops; those of their Moravian
disciples who had accompanied them to Rome, were made priests and
deacons. Constantine received the consecration, but did not accept the
diocese allotted to him. With the permission of the pope, he adopted
the name of Cyril, and died forty days afterwards, Feb. 13, A.D. 868.
His remembrance is cherished as holy by the Slavic nations; and even
as early as A.D. 1056, we find, in the calendar of the _Evangelium of
Ostromir_, the fourteenth of February set down for the celebration of
his memory.

Methodius returned to Moravia the same year, A.D. 868. He was what was
called an _episcopus regionarius_, and had therefore no fixed
residence. In the letters of pope John VIII, he is called bishop of
Moravia and Pannonia. The first of these countries was at this period
the theatre of bloody wars; the Slavic inhabitants of th