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

Prince Charles Hosts Reception For Hilandari Monastery Appeal


Aimilios Polygenis
July 30, 2011
Romfea.gr

A fundraising reception for the reconstruction of the Serbian Hilandari Monastery on Mount Athos was held on July 28th at the official home of the family of the Prince of Wales and was hosted by Charles, the Prince of Wales.

Specifically, on Thursday afternoon, about 100 guests from the United Kingdom, Europe, the U.S. and prominent members of the Serbian Diaspora, gathered to raise money for lab equipment to maintain icons and manuscripts, which are part of the priceless treasures of Hilandari Monastery.

It should be noted that the Head of the Foundation of Hilandari Monastery, Milinots Radic, said the charity event was organized by Prince Charles to support the Monastery.

"We also had two other charity events in London, and the money received was for the rehabilitation of bakery equipment and and library of the Monastery," added Mr. Radic.

Prince Charles regularly visits Mount Athos and Hilandari Monastery, during which he saw up close the size of the destruction caused by the fire on 4 March 2004.


It is true that Prince Charles and his father the Duke of Edinburgh, honorary members of the Friends of Mount Athos in the United Kingdom, contributed actively to Mount Athos and the Monastery (see here, here, and here).

The Abbot of the Monastery, Archimandrite Methodios, in his statement said that the Prince of Wales cares for the course of the reconstruction of the Monastery, but the work has been affected by the economic crisis, as the Serbian and the Greek Government is unable to contribute.

It is worth noting that the abbot of Hilandari, Methodios, met with Prince Charles, where he was briefed on the rehabilitation work and especially for the restoration of the west wing.


Prince Charles reported on the sustainable development of the Monastery and told the abbot that some money will be invested in vineyards and olive trees, which will contribute to the normal life of the Monastery.

Finally, the abbot of Hilandari during his stay in the United Kingdom visited the Church of St. Sava in London, and the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex.

Read more in Serbian here.

Translated and edited by John Sanidopoulos
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