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.



February 19, 2011

Archimandrite Konstantinos Pappas Still Liturgizing At 101 Years Old


He was born in the village of lower Xehoro Filiatron in the year 1910. Today he is 101 years old. In July 1940 he was ordained priest in the parish of Lampovistra of lower Xehoro. In October the Second World War was declared. In his soul was the national consciousness and he decided to go to Albania, where the Greek army fought for the homeland. He went as far as Agious Saranta. There he met the battalion of Filiates where he remained some time and his aim was to animate the soldiers to fight for their homeland. Afterwards he returned to his village.

In April 1941, Greece was occupied by the Germans. In 1943, he with 44 youngsters from nearby villages left and enlisted in the National organization of Ε.Ο.Ε.Α by General Napoleon Zervas for two years.

In 1944 by order of the Middle East headquarters they went to Corfu to avoid conflict with the organization of EAM-ELAS.

On August 16, 1945 he was appointed to the Monastery of Giromeri.

He found the monastery in poor condition but he struggled and was able to restore the ruined buildings of the monastery.

In 1960 he went to the parish Graikochoriou where he found the people inside the barracks. There he remained with his presvytera in a shack for two years and struggled to make a church and home for the chaplains. He also helped to rebuild the new village. He remained chaplain 24 years in Graikochori.

Now he is 29 years retired, but never sits. He officiates anywhere in churches and monasteries.

These 29 years he helps the Metropolis whenever needed.

The most important thing is that the 29 years that he is retired, he works for free, with no charge. This also goes for the homeland. All his struggles were made without charge.

He was recently honored for his contributions to the Church and the Nation.

Source

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