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.



May 3, 2011

The Glorification of Saint Irodion of Lainici (+ 1900)


A few days ago the former abbot of Lainici Monastery, Righteous Irodion (1821-1900), was proclaimed a saint. The moment was marked by the reading of the Synodal Tomos by His Grace Emilian Lovisteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Ramnic, we are informed by the Trinitas Radio station.

“The Holy Orthodox Church has always honoured the people pleasing to God who lived their earthly life in holiness and piety and who brought spiritual benefit in the souls of the faithful through their deeds and words. Following the holy tradition of the Orthodox Church and praying for the help of the Holy Life-Giving Undivided Trinity we decide that from now on and forever and ever Abbot Irodion from Lainici Monastery should be one of the Saints of the Church among the host of the pious God-bearing fathers and honoured with eulogies and chants, bearing the name of Saint Irodion of Lainici. We establish in the Holy Spirit the day of May 3 of every year for his celebration, with his name listed in the Sinaxarion, in the service books, as well as in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church”, said His Grace Emilian Lovisteanul.


The Patriarch of Romania awarded the Patriarchal Cross to Father Archimandrite Ioachim Parvulescu, exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Craiova and abbot of Lainici Monastery, and offered a blessing cross and a set of holy vessels for the new church, informs “Lumina” newspaper.

To end with, His Eminence Irineu thanked His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the hierarchs present at the event, as well as all the faithful who engaged in the construction of the church and organisation of the event.

The feast ended with a procession of the shrine of the relics of Saint Irodion and of the canonisation icon laid in the new church.

Source


Over 5,000 pilgrims jostled each other in order to attend the canonization of Saint Irodion and the dedication of the new Lainici Monastery near Targu Jiu. Although the event was attended by Patriarch Daniel and important Church officials, people jostled each other to enter the altar. Apart from christening, when only the boys enter this sacred space, the dedication of a church is the only event when all believers have the chance to enter the altar. Several persons fainted.

Source

Read about Saint Irodion of Lainici here.





Labels: ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!