The Glagolitic and Cyrillic scripts both played crucial roles in the development of Slavic literacy, but they differ significantly in origin, appearance, and legacy. Glagolitic was the earliest Slavic script, created in the 9th century by Saints Cyril and Methodius to translate religious texts into Old Church Slavonic. It was designed to suit the unique sounds of Slavic languages and had a distinctive, ornate appearance, with characters that looked quite unlike Greek or Latin letters.
Cyrillic, by contrast, was developed shortly afterwards by their disciples, likely in Bulgaria, as a more practical and accessible alternative. It borrowed heavily from the Greek alphabet, making it easier to learn and adapt for administrative and secular use. Visually, Cyrillic is more structured and familiar, resembling modern alphabets used today.
While Glagolitic remained in use primarily for religious purposes, especially in Croatian liturgical texts, it gradually faded from everyday use. Cyrillic, however, spread widely and became the dominant writing system across Eastern Europe. Today, it remains a living script used in many modern languages, including Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and Ukrainian. Glagolitic survives mainly as a historical and cultural artefact, while Cyrillic continues to evolve and thrive.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Glagolitic-alphabet
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cyrillic-alphabet
