ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: The First Recorded Miracle of St. Spyridon in Kerkyra

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 13, 2012

The First Recorded Miracle of St. Spyridon in Kerkyra

On the 13th of July the Orthodox Church celebrates the miracle of our Holy Father Spyridon the Wonderworker, who gave sight to the blind man Theodore.

In 1577 the Venetians undertook a construction project outside of the fortifications of the city, which resulted in the demolition of the Church of Saint Spyridon in Koukounaria, which was near the Jewish cemetery and housed the incorrupt relics of the Saint for many years. No trace of this church exists today, yet it was in this church that St. Spyridon worked his first recorded miracle, giving sight to the blind man Theodore. For many years, whenever people passed by the area of this church, they would do their cross and speak of this miracle with astonishment.

Konstantinos Tsagaras, hearing of this miracle and wanting to honor the Saint for working his wonder in his neighborhood, decided in 1700 to build a chapel to St. Spyridon in Sarokou. On July 13, 1735 this chapel was consecrated to commemorate the miracle of St. Spyridon healing the blind man.