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.



January 27, 2010

A Patristic Text Elder Porphyrios Loved


Elder Porphyrios persistently taught that our love for our fellow man should be such that we look upon them as we look upon ourselves.

At one time he had asked one of his spiritual children to photocopy the following section of St. Symeon the New Theologian, which was handed out to his visitors:

We should look upon all the faithful as one person and consider that Christ is in each one of them.

We should have such love for them that we are ready to sacrifice our very lives for them.

For it is incumbent upon us neither to say, nor think of any person as evil, but we must look upon everyone as good. If you see a brother afflicted with a passion, do not hate him.

Hate the passion that makes war upon him. And if you see him being terrorized by the habits and desires of previous sins, have compassion on him. Maybe you too will be afflicted by temptation, since you are also made from matter that easily turns from good to evil. Love towards your brother prepares you to love God even more. The secret, therefore, of love towards God is love towards your brother.

For if you don't love your brother whom you can see, how is it possible to love God, Whom you do not see?

"For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God Whom he has not seen" (1 Jn. 4:20).

____________

AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ELDER

My brothers and sisters,

This is the Elder speaking to you. My children, do not misunderstand me. I cannot speak with you, but be assured that by the grace of God, my humble self sees each one of you who comes to greet me and prays noetically for your problems. I wish you many years and good repentance. Whoever is in a rush and cannot wait, let them leave and God’s grace will help them with whatever they are hoping for. I am not always well enough to receive people. Even the nuns here cannot be of service as long as I am not well.

[The above announcement was posted at the request of Elder Porphyrios on the outer door of the Convent "The Transfiguration of the Savior" at the beginning of 1990.]
Labels: ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!