Having entered the Christmas season, we ask those who find the work of the Mystagogy Resource Center beneficial to them to help us continue our work with a generous financial gift as you are able. As an incentive, we are offering the following booklet.

In 1909 the German philosopher Arthur Drews wrote a book called "The Myth of Christ", which New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman has called "arguably the most influential mythicist book ever produced," arguing that Jesus Christ never existed and was simply a myth influenced by more ancient myths. The reason this book was so influential was because Vladimir Lenin read it and was convinced that Jesus never existed, thus justifying his actions in promoting atheism and suppressing the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union. Moreover, the ideologues of the Third Reich would go on to implement the views of Drews to create a new "Aryan religion," viewing Jesus as an Aryan figure fighting against Jewish materialism. 

Due to the tremendous influence of this book in his time, George Florovsky viewed the arguments presented therein as very weak and easily refutable, which led him to write a refutation of this text which was published in Russian by the YMCA Press in Paris in 1929. This apologetic brochure titled "Did Christ Live? Historical Evidence of Christ" was one of the first texts of his published to promote his Neopatristic Synthesis, bringing the patristic heritage to modern historical and cultural conditions. With the revival of these views among some in our time, this text is as relevant today as it was when it was written. 

Never before published in English, it is now available for anyone who donates at least $20 to the Mystagogy Resource Center upon request (please specify in your donation that you want the book). Thank you.



April 23, 2010

The Cell of Saint George "The Revealed One"


The Cell of Saint George "The Revealed One" is a small monastic community on Mount Athos, which was home to the brotherhood of Hadji-Georgis and his spiritual children. The Cell of St George is located to the north of Karyes, towards Vatopaidi Monastery.

The name "the Revealed One" (του Φανερωμένου) dates back to the 14th century where it is mentioned in a sigillion of Emperor Manual Paleologos. A revelation of Saint George occurred again centuries later. One night around the year 1821 certain robbers came to the cell to rob the two older monks who lived there. A young man opened the door for them when they arrived and brought them in while he went to call the elder. Since they waited a long time they decided to begin their robbery. It was then that they realized that they were invisibly tied up and unable to move. The elders heard their screams and came to them. When they saw what was going on they went to the chapel and took the icon of Saint George back with them. When the robbers saw the young man in the icon, they recognized him as the man who opened the door for them. They immediately repented and venerated the holy icon. One ended up even becoming an ascetic at Karoulia, where he built a church dedicated to Saint George.

In 1982 the icon of Saint George the Revealed One was transferred over to Pantokratoros Monastery on Mount Athos and resides in the chapel of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

After the repose of Hadji-Georgis, six of his spiritual children lived there, with the oldest, Elder Evlogios, as their elder. Later, Frs Pachomios and George joined the brotherhood, therefore becoming spiritual grandchildren of Hadji-Georgis.

Elder Evlogios

Elder Evlogios was a great struggler, and would say the Jesus Prayer without ceasing. On one occasion, after Frs Pachomios and George went to pick olives as their handiwork, thirty demons attacked Elder Evlogios. The elder could not stand after this. After Frs Pachomios and George came back, they knocked on the door for their brotherhood, but as it was locked and Elder Evlogios could not hear or stand, Fr George had to go in through a window and then go to the elder's cell. To their surprise, they found the elder black and blue, and the elder told them what had happened.

On one occasion, Elder Evlogios couldn't find fish to celebrate St George. He left the matter in the care of St. George. On the eve of the feast, he heard an animal knocking against the door. Opening it, he saw a mule laden with ninety kilograms of good fish; glorifying God and thanking St. George, he took care of the mule, which had walked a long way. A man later came to the skete, and the full story was ascertained: this man from Hierissos had two mules of fish and was taking them to Zographou Monastery. One of these animals, taken by St. George, made its way to the Cell. The man was looking everywhere and asking everyone where the mule was, until he learnt that where the mule had gone. Recognising divine Providence, they praised God together.

Another time, Elder Evlogios was praying in his cell before a wooden cross. A devil got in through a window to torment the elder, but the elder saw the cross come off the wall and move closer to the devil. The devil disappeared, and the cross went back to where it was.

When the elder was 108, he knew that he was going to die, and predicted that Fr George would live until he was 80. Elder Evlogios, having received Communion, reposed On April 11, 1948.

Elder Pachomios

Elder Pachomios, disciple of Elder Evlogios and spiritual grandson of Hadji-Georgis, also struggled for many years. On the Thursday before his repose, he called Fr George and asked him to purchase a large quantity of fish, to celebrate both St George's feast and the repose of Elder Pachomios, stating that he wouldn't be celebrating St George's with them. Fr George got the fish; then the next day, Elder Pachomios asked him to tell the fathers to arrange their work around the two feasts (of the funeral and of St George). The next day, Elder Pachomios sent for Father Demetrios to administer Communion. Afterwards, having given glory to God, he embraced the fathers present and he reposed on that day - April 22, 1974. On Sunday they had his funeral and memorial service, then the next day they celebrated St. George's day.

Father George

When Father George reached his eightieth year, he said that he would soon die, in accordance with Elder Evlogios' prophecy. A doctor, examining him, told him that he would live for another thirty years, but as soon as he reached 80, Fr George reposed in 1982.

For twenty years the cell remained uninhabited. In recent years it was restored by certain Greeks and Cypriots. For the maintenance of the Cell, there are sold in the Cell books, incense and CD's.

Source

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