about us | sscm

We are a Byzantine Catholic Parish located in the Spokane area of Washington State. Our parish is a community of Eastern Christians in Eastern Washington and North Idaho who follow the traditions of the Ruthenian-Byzantine rite. We worship according to the ancient liturgical practices of the Church of Constantinople in the custom of the Slavonic peoples of Eastern Europe. As Catholic Christians, we are joined to the Universal Church through our communion with the Pope of Rome. We welcome all Catholics from other Rites as well as our Orthodox brothers and sisters to participate with us, and love to extend our hospitality to vistors.

Rev William O’Brien became the parish priest and administrator of Saints Cyril & Methodius Byzantine Catholic Church in Spokane, Washington on January 2, 2003. Fr Bill is always happy to answer any questions, hang out, have a chat.

Fr Michael is Roman Catholic priest who is bi-ritual and celebrates the Liturgy with us, and provides pastoral care.

Dr Anthony Clark is our sub-Deacon, and we are blessed to have several altar servers.

Who are Saints Cyril and Methodius?

Saints Cyril (825-69) and Methodius (826-84) were brothers born in Thessalonika, Greece. Cyril was sent to study in Constantinople at an early age. After being ordained he held a position at the university. Methodius became governor of one of the Slav colonies in Opsikion Province and then later became a monk. In 861, Emperor Michael III sent both brothers, who had been living in a monastery, to Russia to convert the Khazars. After learning the Khazar language they converted many people. After their return in 863, they were sent to convert the Marovians. They were extremely successful because of their knowledge of the Slavonic language. They invented an alphabet named Glagolithic, which was the beginning of Slavonic literature, and translated liturgical books into Slavonic. Their missionary work was hampered by the German clergy and the German bishop of Passau who did not like their use of Slavonic in church services, did not like that they were from Constantinople, and refused to ordain their candidates for priesthood. Pope Nicholas I asked them to return to Rome, but while they were traveling he passed away. They were greeted instead by Pope Adrian II who received them warmly, approved the use of the Slavonic language in the liturgy, and announced that they were to be ordained bishops. Cyril died shortly after their return to Rome on February 14. Methodius returned to Moravia a bishop. At the request of the Princes of Moravia and Pannonia, the Pope formed the archdiocese of Moravia and Pannonia, independent of the German hierarchy, and made Methodius archbishop at Velehrad, Czechoslovakia. In 870, the German King Louis and the German bishops imprisoned Methodius for two years until he was released by order of Pope John VIII and forbidden to use Slavonic in the liturgy. He was summoned to Rome in 878 for using Slavonic in the liturgy. Pope John VIII was impressed by Methodius's arguments that he again permitted the use of Slavonic in the liturgy. He traveled to Constantinople to finish the translation of Scriptures that he had begun with his brother Cyril. Throughout the remainder of his life he continued to struggle with the Germans. He passed away on April 6. Cyril and Methodius are called "Apostles of the Slavs." The Universal Church Feast Day was established as February 14 by Pope Leo XIII in 1880. The Eastern Church remembers and honors St. Cyril on February 14, St. Methodius on April 6, and both SS. Cyril and Methodius on May 11.