Introduction
St Methodius (815-885) and his younger brother St Cyril (826-869) were Slavs from Thessalonica who brought the Christian gospel to Eastern Europe. In 864, Boris I, King of the Bulgarians (r. 852-889), abandoned his heathen beliefs and was baptised, and according to 11th-century Byzantine chronicler John Skylitzes, Methodius was behind Boris’s change of heart.
BORIS [King of Bulgaria] had a sister, who was a Christian, having been brought up at Constantinople, whither she had been carried captive.* The prince, who was passionately fond of hunting, desired the Emperor* to procure him a picture, which should illustrate his favourite pursuit, and adorn the hall of a new palace he had erected. Methodius was commissioned by the Emperor to execute this task, and he appeared before king Boris, not as a missionary, but as a painter.
“Let it be a good picture,” said the prince, “large and terrible.” “So shall it be,” answered Methodius, “but one thing I demand, — that I may be left undisturbed here to complete my picture, that no one may see it till it is finished.” The king reluctantly gave his consent, and day after day passed, and the painter was not seen. He remained closely shut up within the palace. Weeks rolled by, and Boris chafed with impatience and curiosity.
* Anna, Boris’s half-sister. She had been taken captive by the Roman Empire in a raid on Bulgaria some years earlier, and held in the capital, Constantinople. The conditions of her captivity were gentle: she was carefully educated, and chose willingly to became a Christian. She was subsequently exchanged for the Greek monk Theodoros Koupharas, a long-time prisoner of the Bulgarians who had made several converts himself. Skylitzes tells us that Anna and monk Theodore had both encouraged Boris to take an interest in Christianity, and that a famine had abated after he called on the Christian God for help; but it was the episode with Methodius that finally decided him. Boris christened his youngest daughter Anna.
* Roman Emperor Michael III, who ruled from 842 to 867.
Précis
Boris I, King of Bulgaria, asked the Roman Emperor to recommend an artist to decorate his new palace with a huge mural. The subject was to be The Hunt, a nod to his favourite pastime. The job was given to Methodius, who agreed to paint the scene so long as no one asked to see it until it was finished. (60 / 60 words)
Boris I, King of Bulgaria, asked the Roman Emperor to recommend an artist to decorate his new palace with a huge mural. The subject was to be The Hunt, a nod to his favourite pastime. The job was given to Methodius, who agreed to paint the scene so long as no one asked to see it until it was finished.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, if, just, may, must, not, since, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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