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At the direction of the Patriarch of Constantinople in 863, the brothers SS Cyril and Methodius, Greek monks from Thessalonica, traveled through the Crimea, Bulgaria, and to Bohemia and Moravia converting South Slavic peoples. They developed the Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets, providing the first written language for the South Slavs. Scripture and liturgy were translated into the local languages. In 867 Cyril and Methodius were invited to Rome to discuss jurisdictional issues between Latin and Greek missionaries. Arriving in Rome in 868, they brought with them the relics of Pope Clement I (ca. 92-99), located in the Crimea near the Sea of Azov where tradition held that he was martyred. The relics were buried in the Basilica of St. Clement. St Cyril died in 869 and he was also buried in the Basilica. St Methodius died in 885 in Velehard, located in what is known today as the Czech Republic. In 1980, Pope John Paul II proclaimed SS Cyril and Methodius patrons of Europe due to the fundamental importance from a historical and spiritual perspective. 
To commemorate the 1150th anniversary of the Evangelization of Moravia, the Vatican issued a souvenir sheet containing a €1,90 stamp. It depicts two 11th century frescoes from the Basilica of St. Clement. The issue is a joint issue with Bulgaria and Slovakia.

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