Stele of Cyril and Methodius

The Cyril and Methodius Column in Thessaloniki is located in Nea Paralia. The monument is dedicated to the two brothers, Cyril and Methodius, who are considered the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet and the "Apostles of the Slavs".

The monument was erected in 1997, as part of the celebrations for the 1150 years since the beginning of the mission of the two brothers to the Slavs. It consists of a marble column on which there are relief depictions of Cyril and Methodius, as well as inscriptions referring to their work.

Cyril and Methodius, born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century, were Byzantine missionaries who undertook the mission to the Slavs of Great Moravia at the invitation of the local ruler Rastislav. As part of their missionary activity, they invented the Glagolitic alphabet, which formed the basis for the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet. Their activity was not limited to the education and dissemination of Christianity, but also to the development of a written tradition that contributed to the preservation and development of the Slavic cultural heritage.

The Cyril and Methodius Column in Thessaloniki is a reference point for the enduring friendship between Greeks and Slavs, as well as for the importance of education and cultural heritage. The monument highlights the contribution of Thessaloniki to the history and culture of the wider Balkan region and Eastern Europe.