Evaluate the reasons and select the correct response: What sparked the spread of Christianity by the Greek Orthodox Church into
Eastern Europe? A) The excitement of the Byzantine capital and culture.
B) The absence of speakers of Latin in Eastern Europe.
C) A king's desire for his people to learn religious teachings in their own languages. D) Missionaries of the Greek Orthodox Church visiting neighboring countries, learning the languages, and spreading the word.
Answer: C) A king's desire for his people to learn religious teachings in their own languages.
Rastislav, great king of Moravia, was interested in finding priests who could preach to his people in their own language, so he contacted the church in Constantinople. Methodius and Constantine, two brothers of Slavic origin were sent. The brothers were pivotal in the spread of Christianity into Eastern Europe. They also translated the Bible and invented the Cyrillic alphabet. This decision to preach to people in their local language contributed enormously to the popularity and success of the Orthodox Church.
