Saint Cyril and Methodius Day is observed worldwide by the Eastern Orthodox Church on May 11 and May 24, with May 24 being the more popular celebration date. This day honors Saints Cyril and Methodius, who are recognized as the principal Christian missionaries among the Slavic peoples and are credited with introducing the first alphabet for transcribing Old Church Slavic, the first Slavic literary language. The religious feast is celebrated in several countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Belarus, Macedonia, and Moldavia, but it holds the status of a national holiday only in Bulgaria, Russia, and Macedonia. In Bulgaria, May 24 is known as Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavonic Literature Day, celebrating Bulgarian literature, culture, and alphabet. Similarly, Macedonia observes this day as Slavonic Enlighteners' Day, which became a national holiday in 2006, while Russia celebrates it as Slavonic Literature and Culture Day, focusing on the significance of the alphabet and Slavic literature.