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.



June 15, 2010

Nameday of Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes


Today is the nameday of Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes of Florina (born April 20, 1906). For those who do not know who he is, he is a writer of many Orthodox books and articles and is very much credited for the spiritual renewal of Greece through his fiery sermons (many of which are recorded), and the establishment of traditional Orthodox theology. He has published over 80 books in Greek, of which over 25 have appeared in English.

Despite his old age (he is 104 years old!), he was able to attend todays Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Saint Augustine in Florina and hand out the antidoron. Archimandrite Hierotheos Kokonos, the spiritual father of the Monastery, gave the sermon. He has been at the side of Metropolitan Augoustinos since 1951 and a spiritual father in Florina for over 40 years.

The photo above was taken a few days ago on May 29th. The Metropolitan is holding a book of his translated into Romanian titled "An Elder of 103 Years Old Is Talking To You". The Elder is the same today as depicted, very weak, yet still filled with grace and regularly attends the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of Saint Augustine in Florina every Sunday. He also distributes the antidoron every Sunday and blesses the faithful. He has reached 104 years old by the grace of God, since many times he came near death but has survived. He has also suffered many times over the years by his fellow hierarchs for his harsh critiques, and become what he calls "a football [soccer ball] at the feet of hierarchs". Many Years To You Master! Eis Polla Eti Despota!

http://www.augoustinos-kantiotis.gr/
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