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.



June 13, 2011

Saint Onouphrios of Koronisia

St. Onouphrios of Koronisia (Feast Day - June 12)

Little is known of St. Onouphrios except that which has been handed down from local tradition in the small island of Koronisia off Epirus, Greece, which is under the Metropolis of Nikopolis.

He was pious and humble and lived as a monk in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Koronisia. His humility was so great that his fellow monks would laugh at him. Yet two miracles changed their perception of him.

First, he was seen to return from a nearby dry island to the Monastery using his monastic cassock as a boat.

Second, after praying about it, his beard grew to reach the ground, like his patron St. Onouphrios the Egyptian.

It is unknown when exactly he died, though it is estimated to the 17th or 18th century, and he was recognized for his holiness and considered a saint. Over his grave a church was built in his honor.

His feast day is celebrated on June 12th together with his patron St. Onouphrios the Egyptian.

The Chapel of St. Onouphrios is very small and contains the relics of St. Onouphrios. It was likely built over a more ancient church structure from Byzantine times. The iconography dates to Ottoman times. Near the church is a well dug by St. Onouphrios which is still used by the islanders today. He is the only patron of the island.



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