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 21, 2010

The Chapel of the Prophet Elijah in Ano Glyfada


On the mountains of Hymettus in Ano Glyfada, Athens stands the Chapel of Prophet Elias (Elijah).

Sixty years ago, in 1950, a pious builder named Sarantos saw in his sleep the Prophet Elijah who told him to climb the mountain in order to find his icon.

When he awoke, Sarantos immediately began to search the area indicated to him to find the icon. After many attempts, he finally discovered the icon that was revealed in his dream by the Prophet Elias.

With the help of a donkey, he gathered his building tools and materials, and with much labor and difficulty built the Chapel of the Prophet Elias that still stands today. It should be told that in those days it was very difficult to reach this area and there were no roads. However the faith of Sarantos was great, and his faith became the reward of the people of Athens, who every year gather in the hundreds to celebrate the feast of the Prophet Elias every July 20th.



See also the video from the feast day on July 20th here.
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