Thousands commemorate legacy of missionaries Cyril and Methodius

Dozens of thousands of Czechs Thursday commemorate the 1149th anniversary of the arrival of Christian missionaries Cyril and Methodius. The celebrations are held in Velehrad, in southern Moravia where the missionaries first arrived from Byzantium. A mass was celebrated by Prague Archbishop, Cardinal Dominik Duka while his predecessor Miloslav Vlk delivered the sermon; the former head of the Catholic Church said the anniversary was a good opportunity for Czechs to explore their roots. Thursday is a national holiday in the Czech Republic.