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 17, 2012

Synaxis of All Saints of Scotland


On the second Sunday after Pentecost, each local Orthodox Church commemorates all the saints, known and unknown, who have shone forth in its territory. Accordingly, the Orthodox Church in Scotland remembers the saints of Scotland on this day.

Christ is shown at the top center of the icon titled "Synaxis of All Saints Who Shone Forth in Scotland" stretching forth His arms with a blessing.

In the center of the icon, standing to the left and right of the altar, are Ss. Joseph of Arimathea (July 31) and Andrew the Apostle (November 30). Immediately to St. Joseph's left are St. Paulinus (Oct. 10), St. Palladius (July 6), St. Ternan, and St. Ninian (Sept. 16) holding a scroll that reads: "Their sound has gone forth into all the earth."

In the tier above them are Ss. Moluac, Machar, Kentigern Mongo, (Jan. 13) and the fifty-two monk martyrs of Eloc with St. Donnan (Apr. 17).

Immediately to St. Andrew's right are Ss. Fintan, Aidan of Lindesfarne (Aug. 31), Colman, and Cuthbert (Mar. 20) wearing the bishop's garments.

In the tier above them are Ss. Cedd (Jan. 7), Chad (Mar. 2), Eata (Oct. 26), Wilfrid (Oct. 12), Ceolwulf, Eadfrith, Felgila, Ethilwald (Aug. 1), Eadberht (May 6), and the Saints of Lindesfarne Monastery.

At the front and center of the icon are the three kings and passionbearers of Deira: Ss. Edwin (Oct. 4), Oswin (Aug. 20), and Oswald (Aug. 5).

Immediately to their left is St. Bede of Jarrow (May 27) portrayed as a scribe or historian. To St. Bede's left is St. Columba (June 9).

Behind St. Columba are Ss. Adamnan (Sept. 23), Cummenea Ilbe, Ernan, Baithene, Sagine, Odran, Brescal, Eithne, and Patrick (Mar. 17). Above St. Patrick is St. Kenneth (Oct. 11).

Immediately to the right of the passionbearers is the monastic St. Maelruba and Ss. Colm, Fergus, Drostan, Findlugan, Medan, and St. Donald with his nine daughters (July 15).

To the right and above St. Colm is St. Cormac. The women to the right of St. Cormac are Ss. Hilda of Whitby (Nov. 17), Ebba (Aug. 25), Heiu, Baga of Bee, and Ethelreda (June 23).

The inscription on the bottom reads: "All Saints of Scotland, Pray to God for us."

Kontakion in the Third Tone
Today the choirs of the saints who have pleased God in Scotland stand forth in the Church and unseen pray to God for us. With them the angels give glory; and all the saints of the Church of Christ make glad with them, and all together they beseech the Pre-Eternal God for us.
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