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.



September 21, 2010

The Kursk Root Icon Visits St. Nektarios Greek Monastery in Roscoe


September 20, 2010
Eastern American Diocese ROCOR

With the blessing of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, the wonder-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," visited St. Nektarios Greek Monastery in Roscoe, New York on Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th of September. The icon was accompanied by Hieromonk Nicholas (Perekrestov; cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign) and members of the diocesan media office.

St. Nektarios Monastery was founded in 1999 with the blessing of Archimandrite Ephraim ("Elder Ephraim of Philotheou;" abbot of St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona). The monastery is home to approximately 20 monks and 5 novices. The monastery rector is Abbot Joseph – formerly a monk of Mount Athos.

Abbot Joseph and the monastery brethren greeted the icon at the monastery church under the peal of bells. A paraklesis (a supplicatory canon to the Most Holy Mother of God), vespers, and small compline were then served. In accordance with monastery tradition, the Divine Liturgy began at 3:00 AM. At 11:00 AM, the monks once again served a paraklesis followed by a Panagia service. All of the divine services were served in Greek.

Before the icon’s departure, on behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion, Hieromonk Nicholas presented the abbot with an exact-size copy of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, and gave all of the monks a history of the icon with an akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, along with a copy of the icon. The icon then departed for the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY. Photos and video of the Kursk Root Icon’s visit to St. Nektarios Monastery are available below.

See photos here.

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