History of Cyril & Methodius

Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessalonica of distinguished and wealthy parents, Leo and Maria. The older brother Methodius spent ten years as an officer among the Macedonian Slavs and thus learned the Slavic language. After that Methodius withdrew to Mount Olympus and dedicated himself to the monastic life of asceticism. It was here that Cyril later joined him.

After a period of time, they returned to Constantinople where they compiled the Slavonic alphabet consisting of thirty-eight letters and proceeded to translate ecclesiastical books from Greek into Slavonic. At the request of Prince Rastislav, they traveled to Moravia where they spread and established the devout Faith and multiplied books and distributed them to the priests to teach the youth.

At the request of the pope, Cyril traveled to Rome where he became ill and died on February 14, 867 A.D. Then Methodius returned to Moravia and labored to strengthen the Faith of Christ among the Slavs until his death. Following his death—he died in the Lord on April 6, 885 A.D.

Saints Cyril & Methodius

History of Cyril & Methodius in Plasi

January 28, 1876,k majority of the Catholics in Pilsen (Plasi) decided that it was time them to proceed with plans for a new building. Work began on the church in June of 1877.  March of 1878, Father Kocarnik celebrated his first Holy Mass in the new church in Pilsen.  He became the first resident pastor of Saints Cyril and Methodius with missions in Omaha, Cedar Hill and Wahoo.  Father Kocarnik continued as pastor until 1885.

The church was later destroyed by fire on April 14,1901.  Under the direction of Father Vlcek with the assistance of the building committee a larger church was planned. By the beginning of September 1901, the church was completed.  The parish experienced another disaster on August 4, 1934. The church was caught on fire again and completely destroyed.  They decided to rebuild on the same site. The third church dedicated to the honor of Saints Cyril and Methodius was ready for the celebration of Christmas in 1934.  The church is still here till this day with many new improvements done.