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.



May 16, 2011

Saint Musa of Rome

St. Musa of Rome (Feast Day - May 16)

Saint Musa lived during the fifth century. She was distinguished for her pure life. St Gregory Dialogos included her story in his Dialogues (Bk. 4, Ch. 17), saying that he had heard these things from Musa's brother Probus.

Below is the account of St. Gregory regarding the vision by the young St. Musa of the Theotokos, and her departure from this life and preparation to be in the company of virgins with the Virgin Mary.

Neither must that be forgotten, which the servant of God before mentioned, called Probus, used to tell of a little sister which he had, called Musa. For he said that one night our blessed Lady appeared unto her in vision, shewing her sundry young maids of her own years, clothed all in white, whose company she much desired. But yet not presuming to go amongst them, the Blessed Virgin asked her whether she had any mind to remain with them, and to live in her service: to whom she answered that willingly she would. Then our blessed Lady gave her a charge, not to behave herself lightly, nor to live any more like other girls, to abstain also from laughing and pastime, telling her that after thirty days she should, amongst those virgins which she then saw, be admitted to her service.

After this vision, the young maid forsook all her former behavior, and with great gravity reformed the levity of her childish years. Which thing her parents perceived, and demanded from whence that change proceeded, she told them what the blessed Mother of God had given her a commandment, and upon what day she was to go unto her service.

Five and twenty days after, she fell sick of an ague; and upon the thirtieth day, when the hour of her departure was come, she beheld our blessed Lady, accompanied with those virgins which before in vision she saw to come unto her, and being called to come away, she answered with her eyes modestly cast downward, and very distinctly spake in this manner: "Behold, blessed Lady, I come, behold, blessed Lady, I come". In speaking of such words she gave up her spirit, and her soul departed her virgin body, to dwell for ever with the holy virgins in heaven.

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