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.



June 20, 2010

The Summer Feast of Saint Nahum of Ochrid

St. Nahum of Ochrid (Feast Day - December 23 & June 20)

Saint Nahum of Ochrid, a Bulgarian by descent, was one of the disciples of the Equals of the Apostles Cyril and Methodius (May 11), and he accompanied St Clement of Ochrid (July 27) when he preached the Gospel in Bulgaria. When St Clement set off to the southwestern regions, St Nahum remained in the then capital city of Plisk. Afterwards St Nahum succeeded St Clement in a monastery on the shores of Lake Ochrid, where he labored for ten years.

St Nahum reposed on December 23, 910, and his relics were glorified by numerous miracles, especially healings of spiritual infirmities.

According to St. Nikolai Velimirovich: "Nahum's principle feast is celebrated on December 23 and June 20 is his summer feast. During the summer feast there is a great assembly of people at the Monastery of St. Nahum. Many sick people come or are brought to beseech healing through faith and prayer over the relics of the saint. Not only Orthodox people but also those from other faiths come to seek favor from St. Nahum. In 1926, a Muslim from Resna brought and donated a bell to the monastery out of thanksgiving because St. Nahum healed his brother from his deathbed and restored him to life. The donor was Jemail Zizo and his brother, who was healed, was called Suleiman Zizo. Both were prominent citizens of Resna."


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