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.



February 6, 2015

Holy Martyr Julian of Emesa

St. Julian of Emesa (Feast Day - February 6)

Verses

Christ was pierced with nails in His hands and feet;
Julian added the head as well.

Saint Julian was a pious young physician of the city of Emesa (modern day Homs in Syria) in Phoenicia, who remained faithful to Christ when many apostatized because of persecution. This was a time when Greek pagans, during the reign of Emperor Numerian, arrested Silouan, the bishop of the city, with the deacon Luke and the reader Mokios (Jan. 29) in 284, and he hurried to their prison in order to embrace them with devotion and to encourage them in the glorious contests of martyrdom. Although they had been left in prison to languish from starvation and thirst, they had survived. Thus they were sentenced to become prey for the wild beasts. As they were being brought out, Julian hastened to them to embrace them and encourage them, and he was immediately arrested. Meanwhile, the three holy Martyrs, being in constant prayer, surrendered their souls to Christ before the wild beasts devoured them, and faithful Christians later gathered their relics.


Julian suffered in prison for eleven months. Executioners then drove twelve iron nails into his head, feet and hands. Left for dead, he managed to drag himself to a cave where, having uttered a fervent prayer, he surrendered his holy soul to the Lord.

A beautiful church, Saint Julian Antiochian Orthodox Church (Deir Mar Ilian), was built in Emesa in his honor over the cave where he died. Saint Julian is often also referred to as Saint Ellien of Homs. During renovations to the church in 1970, his coffin was rediscovered. Many miracles have been attributed to Saint Julian through the centuries. Saint Julian is sometimes included among the holy unmercenary physicians (Anargyroi).


Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Julian, holy champion and healer, intercede with our merciful God to grant our souls remission of sins.






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