The Cyrillic alphabet devised by St. Cyril in the 10th century for the Slavs and it is based loosely on the Greek alphabet.
Cyril and Methodist two Orthodox Christian Missionary brothers, were sent on a mission by Photios, the Great, the Patriarch of Constantinople to the Slavs in order to bring Christianity to them.
The alphabet was written to help in the study of the Christian faith. The Serbian, Ukrainian, Russian Orthodox Churches use that alphabet as well as the old Slavonic language.
The missionaries were imprisoned on their way through western Europe because certain Germanic princes, who were loyal to the Roman Pope, did not want the Faith taught to the Slavs in Moravia. Geeze, Politics, is and was always some kind of weird problem!! Anyway....They were released after Photios made an appeal to Rome.
Both missionaries are considered Saints by the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Churches because of their impact in the spread of Christianity in Europe.
It was the 9th century actually.
Cyril and Methodius / Methodios
I wish the serbians Gods blessings as they battle the global forces who are intent on making them bow to islamic terrorist's.