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.



July 15, 2009

Patriarch Pavle of Serbia Today

Patriarch Pavle of Serbia receiving Holy Communion

Referred to by some as a "walking saint" based on his simple lifestyle and humility, as of right now Patriarch Pavle is 95 years old and still leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Whereas bishops around the world are often wrongly criticized for the cars they drive and despite the fact that every bishop in Serbia owns a car to travel around their diocese, he did not. When asked why he never obtained an automobile, he replied: "I will not purchase one until every Albanian and Serbian household in Kosovo and Metohija has an automobile."

Today Patriarch Pavle is the oldest living Patriarch in the Orthodox Church, and unable to walk, bound to a wheelchair. On November 13, 2007 Pavle was institutionalized in the Belgrade Military Medical Academy and has remained there ever since. On May 17, 2008 the Holy Synod took over all Patriarch Pavle’s duties owing to his inability to carry out his functions following a long illness. On October 12, 2008 His Holiness was reported to have asked the Holy Synod to accept his resignation due to declining physical ability. Because of the great love and honor the people and clergy have for His Holiness, on November 11, 2008 the Holy Synod decided to ask Patriarch Pavle to remain on the throne for life.

Today Metropolitan Amphilochios of Mavrovounio visits the Patriarch daily to administer for him Holy Communion, as he has been doing now every day for two years.



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