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.



March 25, 2011

The Third Salutations To The Theotokos


New creation was shown by the Creator in showing Himself unto us whom He created, sprouting up from an unseeded womb, while preserving it just as it was, inviolate, so that beholding the miracle we might extol her, exclaiming:


Rejoice, O flower of incorruptness.
Rejoice, O crown of laurel for continence.

Rejoice, for in you resurrection is typified.
Rejoice, for angelical life you exemplified.

Rejoice, fertile tree with luscious fruit, by which believers are sustained.
Rejoice, foliaged tree beneath which are many sheltered in its shade.

Rejoice, for you were pregnant with the Guide for the errant.
Rejoice, for of the Freer of captives you are the parent.

Rejoice, who plead till the just Judge surrenders.
Rejoice, forgiveness for many offenders.

Rejoice, the vesture of those stripped of confidence.
Rejoice, the tender love that conquers every longing.

Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.


On seeing the strange childbirth, let’s be estranged from the mundane, transporting our mind unto heaven. For this purpose the supernal God as a humble human being appeared down on earth, intending to attract unto the summit those who cry out to Him, Alleluia.


Present below completely and above nowise absent was the uncircum­scribable Logos. For it was no migration through space, but divine con­descension that had taken place, and childbirth from a God-possessed Virgin who hears this that follows:

Rejoice, the uncontainable God’s container.
Rejoice, the magnificent mystery’s doorway.

Rejoice, for unbelievers a doubtful story.
Rejoice, for the believers the doubtless glory.

Rejoice, all-holy vehicle of Him who rides the Cherubim.
Rejoice, exquisite domicile20 of Him who mounts the Seraphim.

Rejoice, who integrate in yourself a contradiction.
Rejoice, who incorporate both virginity and parturition.21

Rejoice, through whom the trespass was nullified.
Rejoice, through whom was Paradise opened wide.

Rejoice, the opener to Christ’s kingdom.
Rejoice, the hope of eternal blessings.

Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.


Quite amazed by the great deed of Your incarnation was the entire nature of Angels. For the once inaccessible God they beheld accessible to all as a man, with us together sojourning while thusly hearing from everyone: Alleluia.


Richly eloquent rhetors we see speechless as fishes when they contem­plate you, O Theotokos. For at a loss are they to explain how you managed childbirth and a virgin yet remain. But we, in marveling at the mystery, cry out with conviction:

Rejoice, God’s Wisdom’s repository.
Rejoice, His providence’s depository.

Rejoice, who prove the philosophers wisdomless.
Rejoice, who reprove the sophists as ridiculous.

Rejoice, for the fierce debaters becoming fools lost their taste.
Rejoice, for the creators of the myths have faded away.

Rejoice, you who rend the webs of the Athenians.
Rejoice, you who fill the nets of the Fishermen.

Rejoice, who drag out from the deep of ignorance.
Rejoice, who illumine many with cognizance.

Rejoice, the barge for those seeking salvation.
Rejoice, the harbor for life’s navigators.

Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.


Set on saving the cosmos, He who set all things in order came down to it of His own volition. And though being the Shepherd as God, for us He appeared like us, as a man; and having called His own, like by like, as God He hears, Alleluia.

Source
Greek

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