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 20, 2011

Russian President Medvedev Baptized In the Jordan


January 19, 2011
RIA Novosti

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev took an Epiphany dip in the holy waters of the Jordan River on Wednesday.

Epiphany, also know as Theophany, is one of the Great Christian Feasts. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates it on January 19 in line with the Julian calendar.

The Russian leader visited a Russian Orthodox center for pilgrims, currently being built near the area where Jesus Christ is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist.

"Visiting the Jordan River on Epiphany Day is a great joy for any Orthodox believer. I'm convinced that the hotel will soon take in its first pilgrims. Happy holiday," Medvedev wrote in the guest book.

Read also: Medvedev's Middle East Tour: Baptism in Jordan
Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!