Today, we are witnessing an interesting phenomenon. The Czechs, Slovaks and Croats, who abandoned Cyrillo-Methodian ideals in the past are making a concerted effort to restore, in their history, the spiritual heritage of the Slavic Apostles, SS. Cyril and Methodius, while we, Carpatho-Rusyns, whose cultural and spiritual life has its roots in Cyrillo-Methodian Christianity, are indifferent about their ideals and sacred trust.

February 14th of this year (1969) completed the eleventh centenary of the death of St. Cyril, who died in Rome in 869. In our circles once again it passed unnoticed. It would be good to re-examine our past and rediscover the very roots of our national and religious heritage. We are not without history, but the history of our people is studied very little, and even more, is less known to us. The ignorance of our past is our greatest enemy, because a people without a past cannot have a future.

Our people have their own history. And it is an ancient and glorious one. We are descendants of the glorious race os Slavs, meaning just that - Glory. Why is there such great apathy as to our own history? After one hundred years the words of our enlightened poet, Father Alexander Dukhnovich (1803-1865) remain still a voice of one crying in the desert: "Carpatho-Rusyns, awaken from your deep slumber - do not forget your own!"