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.



November 19, 2010

Athonite Fathers Send Letter to the Phanar Regarding Esphigmenou Monastery


Romfea.gr has reported on November 19th, 2010 that the Holy Community of Mount Athos is troubled by the Ecumenical Patriarchate sending hierarchical representatives to the schismatics of old Esphigmenou Monastery, and they have expressed their concerns in a letter sent to the Phanar.

Presently there are 45 or more dissenter monks at old Esphigmenou who are occupying the monastery.

In the letter, the Athonite fathers are asking the Ecumenical Patriarchate to notify them before sending hierarchical representatives to old Esphigmenou. Archimandrite Chrysostomos, abbot of new Esphigmenou Monastery, met this past week with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (pictured above) and expressed to him personally the same problem, which he agrees with.

Archimandrite Chrysostomos discussed with the Ecumenical Patriarch what exactly is the position of the Patriarchate regarding the visits of well-known Orthodox Metropolitans to old Esphigmenou, such as Theodoroupoleos of Germany, Michael of Austria and Chrysostomos of Myra.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reiterated that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has a firm position regarding old Esphigmenou, but it is trying to find ways of resolving the issue.
Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!