The creation of the Bulgarian and Slav letters by Sts Cyril and Methodius was of enormous importance for the all-round historical road of Bulgaria as one of the most significant factors and mainstays for the preservation of the national identity of the Bulgarian people in all vicissitudes in its destiny. The Cyrillo-Methodian oeuvre is also the greatest contribution of the Bulgarians to European and World culture. It is for this reason that the Cyrillo-Methodian problems are studied in all Slavonic centres of the world. At the admission of Bulgaria to the Council of Europe in 1992 the only contribution of Bulgaria of all-European importance which was indicated in the speech of Mr. Miguel Martinez, the then President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council, was namely the work of the Slav First Teachers.

     Attempts exist in the sphere of Cyrillo-Methodian studies to belittle the Bulgarian contribution to the emergence and development of Slav civilization. This calls for a prompt reaction to scientific unconscientiousness.

     All this justifies the need for Cyrillo-Methodian studies to be a priority field of Bulgaian science.

      The object of the activity of the CMRC is the study and popularization in Bulgaria and abroad of the Cyrillo-Methodian work and the co-ordination of scientific research in this sphere. Attention is focused on the life, public and literary activity of the Slav First Teachers, their disciples and followers. The Cyrillo-Methodian sources in the Slavonic, Byzantine and Latin literary heritage, and the Cyrillo-Methodian translated and original works are researched, as well as the activity of the Preslav and Ohrid literary schools - heirs and continuers of the literary and spiritual-educational work of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius. The links of the Cyrillo-Methodian work with the Byzantine and West European Middle Ages are followed up.

          In compliance with these tasks of national importance are defined also the priority of the unit:

•           tracing, study and publication of the Slavonic, Greek and Latin sources on the life and work of Sts Cyril and Methodius;
  
  

•           study of the original and translated works of the First Slav Teachers and of their disciples and followers in 9th and 10th cc.;
  
  

•           comprehensive study of the Old Bulgarian written monuments and their later Bulgarian, Serbian, Russian and Moldavien copies;
  
  

•           Comprehensive study of the Cyrillo-Methodian traditions during the Middle Ages. The National Revival and in modern times in Bulgaria and in other countries:

Аt the formation of the CMRC in 1980 the work started on two basic research tasks: sources on the life and work of Sts Cyril and Methodius and the Cyrillo-Methodian bibliography for the period after 1940. After the recognition of the Centre at the end of 1993 the small but most active and authoritative staff was expanded by a group of distinguished scholars and young promising specialists. This made it possible considerably to enrich the research problems and mainly to implement the comprehensive approach to the research tasks. The attention was directed also to the literary heritage of the Slavs’ First Teachers (the Methodian translation of the Old Testament), to the church calendars and to the Cyrillo-Methodian traditions during the Middle Ages and the National Revival. The problems are examined in many aspects: codicological, artistic, palaeographic, textological, literary, linguistic, philosophical, theological and cultural-historical.