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.



August 28, 2010

Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes Has Reposed


According to Romfea.gr, on Saturday, 28 August 2010 Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes of Florina has fallen asleep in the Lord. He was 104 years old, and according to the Old Calendar followed on Mount Athos, it is the Dormition of the Theotokos.

For the past 26 days the Metropolitan had been in the hospital after suffering a stroke. It is worth noting that on Friday he received the Holy Mysteries.

Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes was born in Paros on 20 April 1907. He graduated from the Theological School of Athens in 1929. In 1935 he was ordained a deacon and in 1942 became a presbyter.

He had served as Chancellor of the Metropolis of Aitolia, a military priest, and a preacher in Athens. He issued dozens of periodicals, founded boarding schools, was the founder of "O Stavros" theological brotherhood, and was most noted as a fiery preacher throughout Greece, as well as publishing 82 books.

On 25 June 1967 he was enthroned as Metropolitan of Florina. On 14 January 2000 he retired.

On 28 August 2010 he reposed in the Lord.

May his memory be eternal and may we have his blessing!



I had recently posted the following on the Metropolitan: Nameday of Metropolitan Augoustinos Kantiotes



See also: Πανελλήνια συγκίνηση για την κοίμηση του Μητροπολίτη Αυγουστίνου

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