ECRCM-Newsletter11

EUROPEAN CULTURAL ROUTE OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS NEWSLETTER No. 11

1st August 2017

Building an international network of places inspired by the early medieval mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their disciples referencing to the Christian roots of current Europe The project PartnershipCMR recommended for implementation The application for an irrevocable financial contribution entitled "Partnership and Active Institutional Networks of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Moravian-Slovakia Border" was recommended for approval by the Joint Monitoring Committee of Interreg V-A SK-CZ program. Final approval will follow after the submission of documents proving the fulfillment of conditions for granting aid.

Photo: Cyril and Methodius Pilgrimage in Nitra (Martin Peterka)

Dear readers, last newsletter of Cyril and Methodius Route was launched in December 201 6.

This issue contains information and news, which the Secretariat of the Association European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius accumulated since that time. Newsletter is issued in Czech and English languages. Archive of all issues is available on www.cyrilmethodius.eu. Published articles have not undergone professional translation. Photos are from archive ofthe Association and its members.

NEW CHAIRMAN

The new Chairman of the interest association of legal entities The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius became Mr. Jan Pijacek, Councillor of the Zlín Region (more in page 3).

Prior to his election as Chairman of the Association, he actively participated in activities of the Association and presentation of the Cyril and Methoius Route in Czech Rep., Slovakia and Hungary.

WE SUPPORT PILGRIMAGE

This year, we organized two Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage in the Moravian-Slovakia Region and Nitra in order to make the wanderings and sights on the pilgrimage trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route more attractive. While pilgrimage in Moravian-Slovakia Region was connected with the presentation of two quests, the wandering in Nitra was associated with historical interpretations of monuments (more information on page 2).

Contact on Permanent Secretariat: Ms. Martina Janochová martina.janochova@cyril-methodius.eu Mob.: +420 733 1 61 674 Mr. Martin Peterka martin.peterka@cyril-methodius.eu Mob.: +420 733 1 61 675 European Cultural Route ofSaints Cyril and Methodius, IALE

J. A. Bati 5520, 760 01 Zlín, CZ www.cyril-methodius.eu www.facebook.com/sv.cyrilmethodius

FROM A CONTENT

Photo: Cyril and Methodius celebration in Zalavar (Martin Peterka)

Photo: Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage in Nitra (Martin Peterka)

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

EVENTS MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION PROJECTS EVENT CALENDAR

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NEWSLETTER no. 11

1st August 2017

EVENTS

TWO PILGRIMAGE QUESTS BETWEEN UHERSKE HRADISTE AND VELEHRAD

Cyril and Methodius Pilgrimage through Moravian-Slovakia Region, during which two new quests were presented to the public, took place on Saturday 20th May 201 7 in Uherske Hradiste agglomeration. Interested people could take tasks in the quest to connect with places on one route leading from Uherske Hradiste Sady to the Stare Mesto and on the second route from here to the pilgrimage area Velehrad.

For successful crossworders was prepared a little treasure in the Memorial of Great Moravia in the Stare Mesto and in the Tourist Centre Velehrad. In addition, accompanying programs were also prepared at Great Moravia square in the Stare Mesto (example of medieval life) and in the pilgrimage area Velehrad (inspiration through the life of missionaries) and many other bonuses for the participants in the form of privileged entries to selected monuments.

Quests are easy, suitable for families with schoolchildren, interest clubs and others who love riddle in the field. Treasure chests are ready for successful questors in the target locations. Quests are available in Municipal Information Centre Uherske Hradiste, and other selected locations along the route, such as the Moravian-Slovakia Museum, the Great Moravian Memorial, the Velehrad Tourist Centre, or can be downloaded from the comfort of your home at www.cyril-methodius.eu /putovani/.

Each quest takes 2-3 hours of riddling depending on the speed of riddling and the chosen way of transportation - on foot or by bicycle. Quests were prepared by the Association of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, with the financial support of the Zlín Region (Cultural Fund of the

Zlin Region) in cooperation with the MoravianSlovakia Region, the Moravian-Slovakia Museum, the Roman Catholic parish Velehrad and Velehrad Tourist Centre. The author of the texts is Lenka Horáková, author of drawings is Jana Šulcová. Quests are located along one of the pilgrimage trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route, so they are called pilgrimage quests.

Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage of the armed forces of the Slovak Republic and Hungary in participation with representatives of the European Cultural Route of St. Cyril and Methodius took place in Hungarian Zalavar (Zala Region) in the beginning of June. This is the traditional activity of the Slovak and Hungarian military bishops. After the ceremonial act at the bronze sculpture of Saints Cyril and Methodius followed the Holy Mass on the foundations of the Basilica Saint Hadrian from 850 AD. The main celebrities were the organizing

military bishops Mons. Laszlo Bíró and Mons.

František Rábek. Representatives of the Association talked with representatives of the municipality Zalavár and with host bishops about the engagement of the municipality Zalavár to the network of Cyril and Methodius Route, as regards the former Blatnohrad, seat of Prince Pribina and his son Kocel. This Pribina seat is a place that was visited by Thessaloniki missionaries Saints Cyril Methodius during their journey to Rome. It is one of the few places where their presence is proven.

Photo: Cyril and Methodius Pilgrimage in UH (Martin Peterka)

CYRIL AND METHODIUS PILGRIMAGE OF SLOVAK AND HUNGARY ARMED FORCES

Photo: Cyril and Methodius celebrations in Zalavar (Martin Peterka)

CYRIL AND METHODIUS PILGRIMAGE DURING CELEBRATIONS NITRA, LOVELY NITRA The main Cyril and Methodius celebrations in Slovakia, which are annually dedicated to important personalities of history and present, took place from 3rd to 5th July in Nitra. The Cyril and Methodius festivals were full of cultural, historical and spiritual events. The program opened the Cyril and Methodius Heritage Conference at the Ponitrian Museum. Part of the first day of the city celebrations was also the Nitra Fair, the Beer Festival, the musical performance the Occupation the Pope in the Andrej Bagar Theater and the

evening concert of the Gladiator. The second day of festival continued with wandering in the footsteps of Saints Cyril and Methodius, prepared by the ECRCM Association in cooperation with the Nitra Self-Governing Region, the City of Nitra, the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, the Archaeological Institute of SAS in Nitra and the Zobor Embellishing Association. The wandering began at the Romanesque church of St. Michael in Drazovce, where the deputy mayor of the city of Nitra, Mr. Jan Vanco, and the Councilor of the Zlin Region, Mr. Jan Pijacek made a welcoming act.

From here the pilgrims continued to the Zobor Monastery on foot or on bicycles and the open-air museum on the Martinsky vrch. Historical interpretations of individual monuments were prepared at all stops, and participants received stamps in their pilgrimage passports. The last stop was at the Svatopluk Square in the center of Nitra where pilgrims, after submitting a pilgrimage passport with three stamps, received a pilgrim

Photo: Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage in Nitre (Martin Peterka)

certificate from the Mayor of Nitra, Mr. Jozef Dvonč.

Under the walls of the Nitra Castle, visitors were attracted by the historical festival Pribina's Nitrawa, which was attended by ten ancient associations with more than one hundred participants. The Slavica International Folklore Festival ended the three-day city festival Nitra, lovely Nitra. Folk groups from Belarus, Poland, Moravia, Serbia and Slovakia presented the culture of their country through folklore performance at Svatopluk Square.

Photo: Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage in Nitre (Martin Peterka)

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

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1st August 2017

NEWSLETTER no. 11 MANAGEMENT

NEW CHAIRMAN OF CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE Mr. Jan Pijacek, Councilor of the Zlin Region for the Management of Subsidy Programs, Rural Development and Tourism, became the new chairman of the Association the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius. The General Assembly decided on 8th June 201 7 in Modra. He replaced Mr. Ladislav Krystof, who was the Chairman of the Association since its foundation, former Councilor of the Zlin Region. When establishing the Association, it was assumed that it

would be rotating honorary function among the members not occupied primarily by the representative of the founding member, but other proposals of the members of the Association were not submitted. As a long time mayor of municipality Vlcnov, Mr. Pijacek has a lots of experience and success with the promotion of tourism at local level, for example with the worldfamous Ride of Kings, listed on World Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO.

Photo: General Assembly (Martin Peterka)

MEETINGS OF MANAGING COMMITTEE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY Members of the Managing Committee of the Association met on 28th March 201 7 in Ostrava at the Regional Office of the Moravian-Silesian Region at this year's first meeting. As a strategic and supervisory body, the meeting focused on the activities of the Permanent Secretariat in the past year and the planning of activities for this year, as well as controlling the budget of the Association and the use of membership fees in three categories: Operating expenses, marketing and project activities, science and research. The discussion was also conducted over the two projects of cross-border cooperation programme Interreg V-A Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Before the meeting of the Steering Committee, the Permanent Secretariat met with representatives of the Moravian-Silesian Region and the OstravaOpava Diocese, who communicated about the preparation of the project for tracing and marking the pilgrimage route of the Cyril and Methodius Route from Krakow in Poland via the MoravianSilesian Region and following the existing route from Pustevny to Velehrad.

Photo: Managing Committee (Martin Peterka)

Photo: General Assembly (Martin Peterka)

The General Assembly of the Association took place on 8th June 201 7 in municipality Modra in the Center of the Moravian-Slovakia Tradition next to the Open-air Museum Modra. Representatives of members appointed a new Chairman of the Association, a member of the Council of the Zlín Region for the Management of Subsidy Programs, Rural Development and Tourism, Mr. Jan Pijáček, the first annual report for 201 6 was approved, when the Association became both accountingly and personally independent. The annual report presents all the activities carried out last year as well as the budget of the Association. The General Meeting also agreed activities implemented and prepared in 201 7 and the budget spending of the Association for 201 7. The Permanent Secretariat informed the members of the General Assembly about the approval of the project proposal "Partnership and active institutional network of Cyril and Methodius Route in the Moravian-Slovak border area". The last part of the meeting focused on the promotion of the Cyril and Methodius Route at trade fairs in Brno, Prague, Uherske Hradiste and Trencin and the preparation of a new brochure.

OUTLINE OF ACTIVITIES OF PERMANENT SECRETARIAT TILL THE END OF 201 7 month

activity

September

Cultural Routes Advisory Forum in Lucca, Italy

October

meeting of Managing Committee of the ECRCM Association in Brno

November

the start of implementation of the project PartnershipCMR

November

meeting of General Assembly of the ECRCM Association

November

Conference of the Cyril and Methodius Route

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

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NEWSLETTER no. 11 COMMUNICATION

1st August 2017

CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE AT REGIONTOUR AND HOLIDAY WORLD The Association European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius have exploited offerings to present the Route on various tourism fairs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia this year. For the first time ever, we were able to introduce the Route, thanks to the East Moravian Tourist Authority at the Tourism Fair Trade Regiontour Brno on 1 9th - 20th January 201 7. The employees of the Permanent Secretariat tried to draw attention by the "Great Moravian" costumes borrowed from the Moravian-

Photo: Regiontour Brno (Martin Peterka)

Slovak Museum, biscuits with the Cyril and Methodius Route logo baked in the Velehrad candyshop "Like at home" and a number of own promotional materials, even those provided by members. Our presence at such a major trade fair enabled us to meet with representatives of the Archbishopric of Prague, the Regions of South Moravia, Central Bohemia and Vysočina, the regional tourism organizations of the Žilina and Trenčín regions, representatives of Hungarian and Slovenian tourism, CzechTourism, and others.

A similar form of presentation was also used at the second most important tourism fair trade in the Czech Republic, Holiday World Praha, which took place on 1 6th - 1 8th February 201 7 in Prague. This time, at a stand of the Czechtourism, we also tried to draw attention of the Cyril and Methodius Route by the "Great Moravian" costumes borrowed from the Moravian-Slovak Museum. It was a great opportunity for us to inform about the Cyril and Methodius Route other representatives of regions,

EXPANDING OF INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS

We took part in an international linguistic conference organized by the Slavic Union in Stare Mesto, Czech Republic, on the occasion of the Slavonic Culture Days on June 1 , 201 7. We talked about the possibilities of cooperation with the director of the Slavic Culture Forum in Ljubljana, Mrs. Andreja Rihter, and the Croatian Ambassador in the Czech Republic HE Ines Troha. The Association European Cultural Route of St. Cyril and Methodius was invited to a conference on cultural routes organized by the Forum of Slavonic Cultures in Ljubljana. We also prepare a meeting at the Czech Embassy in Zagreb this autumn.

The Permanent Secretariat continues to develop relations in Slovenia. The retired university professor of mathematics Mr. Ciril Velkovrh prepared a list of churches and chapels dedicated to Saint Cyril and Methodius in Slovenia, thanks to cooperation with the Slovenian ambassador in Prague, He Leon Marc, thus creating an Alpine (inaccessible) and inland trail. Both of these virtual routes are published on the web of Cyril and Methodius Route www.cyril-methodius.eu/en/. At present, there is communication about a more detailed description of the individual monuments on suggested trails.

Photo: Holiday World Praha (Martin Peterka)

cities, municipalities and destination management, various tourism organizations and inhabitants of the western part of the Czech Republic, where information on the Cyril and Methodius Route is getting slower but also a number of other foreign subjects who participated in the Holiday World Praha fair trade.

ROUTE PROMOTION

At the end of 201 6, we were able to complete a new brochure of the Cyril and Methodius Route with the contributions of our members published in Czech and English language. Because the load was not high, we also prepared a promotional flyer in the DL format containing basic information from the brochure, also in both language versions. We have set up Calendar of Events of the Cyril and Methodius Route for 201 7, where we tried to gather important events related to the theme of Cyril and Methodius Route and promoted places. In November 201 7, we will prepare the Calendar of Events of the Cyril and Methodius Route for 201 8.

We exploited the offer of the Moravian-Slovakia Region to present Cyril and Methodius Route on the 7th Tourism and Gastronomy Fair Trade in Moravian-Slovakia, which took place in Reduta in Uherske Hradiste. We not only distributed promotional materials to visitors, but also attracted them to Cyril and Methodius wandering through Moravian-Slovakia with a Quest. We also took the opportunity to meet with our close partners (Moravian-Slovakia Region, municipality Modra, Open-Air Museum Modra, municipality Velehrad, Roman Catholic parish Velehrad, Velehrad Information Centre, Moravian-Slovakia Museum, Event Centre Stare Mesto) with which we have been preparing joint activities on popularizing wandering along the Cyril and Methodius Route.

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Photo: Fair Trade Uherske Hradiste (Martin Peterka)

Photo: Fair Trade Uherske Hradiste (Martin Peterka)

CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE IS PRESENTING AT LOCAL LEVEL

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1st August 2017

NEWSLETTER no. 11 COMMUNICATION

CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE PRESENTED AT FAIR TRADE IN TRENCIN We introduced a new promotional counter of Cyril and Methodius Route at the stand of the Regional Tourism Organization Trenčín Region, which allowed us to present Cyril and Methodius Route at the fair trade Region Tour Expo Trenčín 201 7, which took place from 1 2th till 1 3th May 201 7 in Trenčín.

The fair trade is well-known not only for the products of tourism, but also for a wide range of traditional crafts and gastronomy from various regions of the Slovak Republic.

Photo: Region Tour Expo Trencin (Martin Peterka)

Photo: Region Tour Expo Trencin (Martin Peterka)

PRESENTATION OF THE ROUTE AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN BRATISLAVA AND LEVICE Nearly thirty journalists and travel agents met in a meeting room of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Slovakia on Wednesday, 1 7th May 201 7 for a press conference organized by the Tourism Authority of East Moravia in cooperation with the CzechTourism Foreign Representation in Slovakia in order to present the tourism offer of the Zlín Region in this year's tourist season. The conference was attended by HE Lívia Klausová, Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Slovakia, and Mr. Jan Pijáček, member of the Council of the Zlín

Photo: Press conference in Bratislava (EMTA)

Region, leading the delegation from the Zlín Region. Director of Interest Association of Legal Persons The European Cultural Route of St. Cyril and Methodius Ms. Martina Janochová presented here Cyril and Methodius Route. The day before the press conference in Bratislava, the members of the Permanent Secretariat presented the Route at the town hall municipality Levice within the Levice Days, which lies about 50 km southeast of Nitra.

Inspirational was a meeting with the representatives of the St. Jacob Route in Slovakia.

INTRODUCTION OF A NEW DOCUMENT OBOUT SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS Representatives of the interest association of legal entities, the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius attended a press conference in Mechanical Bethlehem in Horni Lidec on 27th June 201 7. The year-round exhibition was completed with a part devoted to Saints Cyril and Methodius and a new film On the dawn of common history - in the footsteps of Cyril and Methodius has a premiere here portraying the fates of the Slavic brothers Cyril and Methodius, which extends the

existing offer in Bethlehem in Horni Lidec. The document appropriately illustrates the common Czech-Slovak Christian history, the trailer can be seen at www.youtube.com. The engaging film has a footage of almost 30 minutes, it was filmed in the localities where the Saints Cyril and Methodius stand in the past, offering a whole range of interesting information about the life and the legacy of both brothers. Among the guests was of course the author Mr. Martin Žucha.

Photo: Bethlehem in Horni Lidec (Martin Peterka)

PROJECTS

SUCCESS IN FIRST CALL OF THE PROGRAMME INTERREG V-A SK-CZ Since the first idea to implement the Cyril and Methodius Route and the foundation of the interest association of legal entities the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius is ambitious to apply for certification of Cyril and Methodius Route in the program "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe". Firstly, must be fulfilled the criteria defined by the Council of Europe. The basic condition for running the Route is to introduce systematic approach for development.

Inspired by other European cultural routes, the Permanent Secretariat, together with partners from the Trnava Self-Governing Region, LAG Buchlov,

the Nitra Self-Government Region, the Slovak House of Centrope and the Mendel University in Brno, submitted a project application "Partnership and Active Institutional Networks of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Moravian-Slovakian Border" Interreg V-A Slovak Republic - Czech Republic. In June 201 7, the Joint Monitoring Committee recommended a project proposal for approval, which precedes the satisfaction of conditions for the grant of a non-repayable financial contribution. The project is built on four supporting pillars:: 1 ) Defining the theme of the Route in the border

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

area based on the cultural and historical heritage of Great Moravia; 2) Development of the Development Strategy of the Route in the border territory; 3) Strengthening the network of Cyril and Methodius Route partners on public and private sector entities; 4) Application of the strategy through pilot action plans and targeted promotion.

If the project application is finally approved by Interreg V-A SK-CZ, it is expected to launch the project in the autumn of this year. Thanks to all the partners for active cooperation during the elaboration of the project proposal.

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1st August 2017

CALENDAR OF EVENTS OF CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE 201 7 month

event

1 2th and 1 3th August

Veligrad 201 7 - Fight for Settlement, Open-air museum Modra (CZ)

21 st - 26th August

XVII. Star walking pilgrimage to Velehrad (CZ)

26th August

Music Festival Sroubek, Velehrad (CZ)

27th - 30th September

Autumn in the Rastic town of Moravia, Styrke III, Mikulcice (CZ)

28th - 30th September

8th walking pilgrimage of Saint Wenceslas, Velehrad - Holy Hostyn (CZ)

27th - 29th October

Tribute to the Rastic town of Moravia, Styrke IV - Mikulcice (CZ)

4th November

1 0th Cistercian seal, an exhibition and degustation of sacramental wines, Velehrad (CZ)

1 1 th November

7th Festival of Spiritual Music, Velehrad (CZ)

24th November

Winter in Rastic town of Moravia, Mikulcice (CZ) Follow www.facebook.com/sv.cyrilmethodius, where monthly calendar of Cyril and Methodius Route is published with more detailed information.)

MEMBER PRESENTATION: TRENCIN SELF-GOVERNING REGION The Trenčín Self-Governing Region (TSR) is one of the eight semiautonomous regions established in the territory of the Slovak Republic. It is located in the very rugged, predominantly moun- tainous northwest section of Slovakia. It lies in the valley of two rivers – the central branch of the Váh and the upper branch of the Nitra. The territory of the Trenčín Region is an important industrial area in the country. The TSR borders with the Zlín Region (the Czech Republic) in the west, with the Žilina Region in the northwest, the Banská Bystrica Region in the east and the Trnava and Nitra Regions in the south.

There are many significant monuments and landmarks bearing the legacy of the missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius in the territory of the Trenčín Self-Governing Region. The route of the Cyril-Methodius trail, which will pass through the territory of the TSR, has been created in cooperation with experts in history and

tourism. The route runs through significant places of pilgrimage such as Skalka nad Váhom, Pobedim, Sedmerovec, the Slavic fortified settlements at Beckov, Hrádek and Vyšehrad, but also to more recent churches and chapels that have been consecrated to Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prievidza, Partizánské, Klátova Nová Ves and elsewhere. The pilgrimage route leads through interesting tourist locations offering tourists and pilgrims many options for accommodation and dining or for relaxation in the spas of the Trenčín Region.

The involvement of the TSR in the international project of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius will provide the Trenčín Region with an excellent opportunity to integrate itself into the significant European routes of cultural and pilgrimage tourism. Among the specific activities, it is necessary to mention the traveling exhibition Mission in Contexts, implemented by

Photo: walls of Trencin Castle (Martin Peterka)

the Trenčín Educational Center illustrating the sacral cultural monuments of 9th - 1 2th century in the border region of the Czech and Slovakia Republic as well as the international art-literary symposium ORA ET ARS, which aim at promotion of the pilgrimage site Skalka near Trencin and at honoring the Patron of Europe St. Benedict.

VISIT US AT OUR OFFICE IN ZLIN The office of the Permanent Secretariat of the Interested Association of Legal Entities European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius is located at the address J. A. Bati 5520 in Zlin, Czech Republic in the 3rd floor of Building no. 22 in former factory area in Zlín accross the famous Bata skyscraper, seat of Zlín Region. Arranging a meeting is possible by phone +420 577 043 907 or by e-mail info@cyril-methodius.eu.

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Member Network's Map

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NEWSLETTER no. 11

1st August 2017

Cyril and Methodius wandering, Uherske Hradiste

Zobor Monastery, Nitra Region Tour Expo Trencin

Regiontour Brno

Regiontour Brno

Cyril and Methodius Pilgrimage in ZalavĂĄr

Levice Castle

Cyril and Methodius wandering, Nitra Lingvistic Conference, Stare Město

Chaple Velka Skalka

Chaple in Cultural Centre Mocenok

Cyril and Methodius Pilgrimage in Zalavar

Cyril and Methodius wandering, Nitra

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Cyril and Methodius wandering, Velehrad

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NEWSLETTER no. 11

MEMBERS OF CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

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