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 23, 2017

Saint Sisinios the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus

St. Sisinios the Confessor (Feast Day - November 23)

Verses

Having first submitted to much violence in life,
Sisinios entered life without violence.

Sisinios was from the city of Cyzicus and contested during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in the year 300, when Alexander was Governor of Cyzicus. He was accused of being a Christian to Alexander, and after confessing that he was indeed a Christian, he was bound to wild horses and forced to run with them. He was then beaten without mercy, and they forced bitter vinegar up his nose. After enduring other tortures, and performing various miracles, he was cast into prison.

1831 Russian icon depicting the Archangel Michael holding a sword of three blades holding back demons in the form of women, while Sts. Sisinios and Marouthas (2/16) pray; below is the torture of St. Sisinios being dragged.

When Constantine the Great came to the throne, and an edict of toleration towards Christians was issued, Sisinios was released from prison and became Bishop of Cyzicus. He gathered with the other Holy Fathers in the year 325 at the First Ecumenical Synod of Nicaea, where he choked Arius with the sinews of his correct doctrine, proclaiming the Son to be consubstantial with the Father. Having therefore conducted himself well with love for God, he departed to the Lord.


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