Church Slavonic

Church Slavonic is a liturgical Slavic language based on Old Church Slavonic and used in Orthodox Christian worship. Its regional recensions reflect centuries of use across Slavic churches.

Old Church Slavonic: The earliest attested Slavic literary language, created for Christian translation in the ninth century. Church Slavonic developed from this language as worship and writing spread among Slavic communities.
Church Slavonic recensions: Regional written forms of Church Slavonic shaped by local linguistic and ecclesiastical traditions. Recensions explain why Church Slavonic texts differ across Orthodox communities.
Cyril and Methodius: Ninth-century Byzantine brothers who led the mission to the Slavs and helped establish Slavic Christian literacy. Their translation and missionary work laid the foundations for the language's liturgical tradition.
Eastern Orthodox liturgy: The rites and services practiced in Eastern Orthodox churches. Church Slavonic is used in the liturgy of several Orthodox traditions.
Russian language: An East Slavic language spoken chiefly in Russia and neighboring countries. Russian is a modern vernacular, while Church Slavonic serves primarily liturgical functions.
Glagolitic script: An alphabet devised in the ninth century for writing Slavic languages. Early Slavic Christian texts, including predecessors of Church Slavonic texts, were written in Glagolitic.
Church Slavonic pronunciation: The conventional spoken realization of Church Slavonic texts in a particular church tradition. Pronunciation varies by region even when worshippers use the same written text.
Great Moravian mission: The ninth-century Christian mission to Great Moravia associated with Cyril and Methodius. The mission created an early setting for Slavic scripture and worship in a Slavic language.
Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom: A central Eucharistic service of Eastern Orthodox churches, attributed in tradition to John Chrysostom. Church Slavonic versions of this service are sung and recited in Orthodox worship.
Serbian language: A South Slavic language spoken chiefly in Serbia and neighboring countries. Serbian is the modern spoken language alongside Church Slavonic worship in Serbian churches.

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