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

Orthodox Missionary Presents Icon To 'Deep Purple' Vocalist


Renowned Orthodox Missionary Presented An Icon To The Deep Purple Vocalist

15 June 2010
Interfax

Rector of two Moscow churches Hegumen Sergei (Rybko) presented the Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir to the Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan.

The renowned missionary and the legendary musician met at the Rock on the Volga festival, which took place on Russia Day and attracted about 200 thousand spectators, coordinator of the Orthodox Fraternities Unity Yury Ageyeschev told an Interfax-Religion correspondent on Tuesday as he also participated in the meeting.

According to him, Fr. Sergei turned to the multi-thousand audience with a sermon and urged them to keep their Orthodox faith.

Earlier, the priest more than once confessed that he had come to Christ thanks to rock music.

See also:

Meet Moscow's Punk Priest, the Rev. Sergei Rybko

Fr. Sergy Rybko Opens The Perm Rock Festival On Drums
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