To the Tomb of Cyril

Today, on behalf of the people of the parish, I made pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Clement, the burial place of St. Cyril. St. Cyril died in 869 A.D. and was buried in the 4th century basilica that now is the lower basilica of the present-day basilica (built in the 12th century). St. Cyril was buried in this basilica at the request of his brother, St. Methodius. Pope Paul VI placed St. Cyril's relics in the altar of a side chapel (shown above) of the upper basilica in 1969. At this altar I lit a candle for the people of SS. Cyril and Methodius parish in Shiner.

The Basilica of San Clemente is a remarkable site and should not be missed on any pilgrimage to Rome! By simply walking down a few stairs, one goes from the 21st century to the 1st century in just moments. Many excavations of the 4th century basilica and below have been done since the 1850's. Work on the excavations continues to this day.

Below the 4th century basilica is an entire 1st century Roman alleyway including several homes...complete with running water! The water continues to run to this very day 2000 years later. How's that for reliable plumbing?!!

This level also contains a Mithraic temple and school. The cult of Mithra was outlawed in the Roman Empire in 395 A.D. and it was at that time that its property was taken over by the Church for the building of the 4th century basilica. Prior to that, the Christian church was meeting in the home of someone named Clement; hence, the name of the basilica, Saint Clement.

St. Mary Major and Shiner

One most likely would never consider that there is a connection between The Liberian Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, Italy and Shiner, Texas but there is...of a sort!

As we all know, the two Greek brothers who came to be known as Cyril and Methodius, are called the Apostles to the Slavs because of their evangelization and catechesis of the Slavic peoples. To accomplish this great task of evangelization and catechesis, Cyril and Methodius were responsible for the development of an alphabet and the translations of things like sacred scripture, theological and philosophical texts, and even the Latin Rite's Roman liturgy into the Slavonic language. It was not licit at the time for Holy Mass to be celebrated in the Latin Rite in any language other than Latin. So, Cyril and Methodius eventually made their way to Rome to see the Holy Father and ask for permission to celebrate Holy Mass using the Slavonic language. There was much opposition to this and at times, Cyril and Methodius were confronted with accusations of heresy.

However, in 869 A.D., Cyril and Methodius received the necessary permission from Pope Adrian II, who signed the edict of permission in Cyril and Methodius' presence in the Basilica of St. Mary Major! Almost simultaneously, Pope Adrian II ordained both Cyril and Methodius as bishops. Cyril never left Rome, dying later that same year. However, Methodius returned to missionary work amongst the Slavs.

Saints Cyril and Methodius are the patron saints of our parish in Shiner and so, we in Shiner, have a connection to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome!

The photos above show a plaque in the baptistry at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome commemorating Pope Adrian II's edict (signed in the basilica) in the presence of Cyril and Methodius. By the way, Saints Cyril and Methodius are not buried at St. Mary Major Basilica, rather they are interred at San Clemente Church here in Rome.