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.



January 5, 2011

Muslims In Greek Cyprus Want Back Mosque Area


January 5, 2011
World Bulletin

The 20-member association takes back the property around Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, which Greeks reportedly plan to build an entertainment center.

Muslims in on Greek Cypriot side established the "Cypriot Supreme Council of Muslims", demanding the property around the Hala Sultan Tekke, angering the Greek archbishop.

The 20-member association want to take back the property around Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, which Greeks reportedly plan to build an entertainment center.

According to Turkey's Anadolu news agency, citing Greek Simerini newspaper, "the association's emblem carries 'flags of the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman navy flag and a ship with Ottoman robe (kaftan).'"

The President of the Association, Imam Sakip, talked to Sigma TV and expressed uneasiness with the decicion that the Greek Cypriot administration allowed an entertainment center to be built 20 meters from Hala Sultan Tekke. He has accused the Greek Cypriot side of not showing respect for the Muslim places of worship.

Imam Sakip said, "I would like to give this message to the Republic of Cyprus (Greek part) that you need to be an example of a European country," he said. In order to show this, the Republic of Cyprus should hand over the keys of Hala Sultan Tekke and the property around it to the association," he said.

Applying for registration officially to the Greek Interior Ministry, the association will initiate the procedures necessary to request hundreds of acres of surrounding property to the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca Salt Lake area.

Archbishop angry

On the other hand, the report says Greek Orthodox Church Archbishop Chrysostomos II reacted to the establishment of the "Cypriot Supreme Council of Muslims" and its demands, as well as the accusations that were directed towards him on the bad condition of Muslim places of worship.

Chrysostomos II claimed, if the members of the association visit him, he will show them "how well the Muslim churches on the Greek Cypriot side are and ready to be worshipped in at any time."

The Archbishop also said "he will show them that the Christian monuments from 12th, 13th and 14th centuries have been destroyed one after the other in the North."

Hala Sultan Tekke or the Mosque of Umm Haram is a very prominent Muslim shrine near Larnaca. Umm Haram was Prophet Muhammad's wet nurse.
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