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.



July 30, 2011

Karl Marx Monument Dismantled, To Be Replaced By Church


July 14, 2011
Interfax

The monument to Karl Marx at Sovetskaya Square in downtown Penza was dismantled as a cathedral will be erected instead of it, the Penza Diocese told Interfax.

"A part of the Savior Cathedral will occupy this part of the square; its construction is underway," the interviewee of the agency said.

A foundation pit for the church building will soon be excavated.

The decision to move the monument was taken by the city administration. It was planned to transfer it to Karl Marx Street.

The world's first monument to Marx was set up in Penza on May 1, 1918, but it broke down as it was made of clay. In November 1960, a new monument was erected here: it was a two-meter bronze bust on a six-meter granite stand.

The new cathedral complex will be built on the place of the old church built in 1800-1824 and blown up in 1934. [The bronze two-meter bust was established on the six-meter granite pedestal on that place where there was an altar of the Spassky Cathedral which was blown up in 1934.]

Read more about this story and see photos of the dismantling here.
Labels: ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!