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.



March 21, 2016

Saint Beryllus, Bishop of Catania

St. Beryllus of Catania (Feast Day - March 21)

Verses

Next to dead Beryllus was found a crown,
Having dominated both passions and demons.

Saint Beryllus was from Antioch in Syria, and a disciple of Peter the Apostle. Having joined the Leader of the Apostles on his missionary journey to the West, he was ordained by him Bishop of Catania which is on the island of Sicily. There he shepherded his flock well and in a God-loving manner, led many to faith in Christ, and worked many miracles, of which we will mention here only one.

There was a spring in Catania which gushed forth only bitter water. Through his prayers, Beryllus changed this bitterness into sweetness. When a certain Greek idolater saw this miracle, he believed in Christ, along with many others.


The Saint shined forth with other such miracles, and when he reached deep old age, he reposed in the sleep prepared for the righteous. His holy relics were entombed in the city of Catania in a magnificent manner, and from them gushed forth healings which continue to this day, for those who approach him with faith.

A Divine Service was written to Saint Beryllus by Theophanes of Sicily and Joseph the Hymnographer, in which he is called the first Bishop of Catania. In Slavic synaxaria he is commonly known as Cyril, which is thought to have been his real name.

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