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 17, 2010

Saint Gennadios the Steward of Vatopaidi

St. Gennadios the Steward of Vatopaidi (Feast Day - November 17)

Verses

Gennadios saw a strange miracle,
An empty tank overflowing, by the grace of the Pure One.

Saint Gennadios was the steward of Vatopaidi Monastery on Mount Athos in the fourteenth century, and was in charge of supplies. When the monastery's oil began to run low, he tried to be economical with what remained by using oil just for the needs of the church. The cook began to complain to the abbot, saying that he had no oil for preparing meals. The abbot ordered Gennadios to place his trust in the Mother of God to supply the oil for all the monastery's needs.


One day, Saint Gennadios went to the storeroom and saw the tank overflowing with oil covering the floor as far as the door. This miracle was ascribed to the Most Holy Theotokos, and to her Elaiovrytissa icon which stood nearby. Since that time, the icon has hung in the storeroom and has emitted an ineffable fragrance. Saint Gennadios reposed in peace.

The Elaiovrytissa ("Flowing with Oil") Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is commemorated on Bright Friday. On this day the icon is transferred to the Katholikon of the monastery. It also bears the name Docheiarissa ("Stewardess").

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