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.



November 9, 2014

Saint Nektarios on the Seven Mysteries of the Church


THE MYSTERIES

By St. Nektarios the Wonderworker

(from his book Pastorals)

What is Baptism?

Baptism, according to Symeon of Thessaloniki, is the beginning and preparation towards appropriating God and the heavenly inheritance and a bathing of regeneration that purifies the one baptized from the pollution of sin, regenerating unto life eternal.

What is Chrismation?

Chrism, also called Holy Myrrh, is the visible sign and seal of Christ. Myrrh is the perfecting anointing that gives a sweet odor to the one who has been perfected and the divine Spirit is united with them. (Dionysius the Areopagite, The Celestial Hierarchy)

What is the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is the spiritual food that enlivens the soul and brings man into direct communion with Christ. (Gabriel of Philadelphia, On the Mysteries)

What is the Priesthood?

The Priesthood is an order of the divine mysteries that has perceptible spiritual power operated by people who are males, for the salvation of mankind and their help, which has been given to them by the Savior.

What is Repentance?

Repentance is a bath of purification of our sins and a return from an unnatural state to a natural state and from the devil to Christ.

What is Marriage?

Marriage is a blessing and sanctification for those who come together in marital communion as a blessing and sanctification from the beginning of the human race.

What is Anointing?

Anointing is a consecration and a reminder of the old miracle, oftentimes performed for those dying an untimely death. Anointing is the healing of the soul and the body.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
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