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.



August 25, 2012

Metropolitan of Aitolia: Encyclical On the Old Calendarists


Press Release

In the Holy City of Messolonghi, the 20th of August 2012

Metropolitan Kosmas of Aitolia and Arkanania visited on Sunday 19 August 2012 Paliambela Vonitsa, where he liturgized in the parish of the Holy Church of Saint Athanasios and informed the faithful of the recent issue created in the region because of the desertion from the Orthodox Church and the transition of Archimandrite Anatolios Psychogios to "Bishop" of the schismatic Old Calendarists.

His Eminence, speaking on the issue of the Old Calendarists, said among other things: "I ask God to enlighten Fr. Anatolios to return. I have the responsibility as a Bishop to inform everyone and I encourage everyone to have no spiritual communication or relationship... And of the same I ask that he come to repentance."

Metropolitan Kosmas of Aitolia and Arkanania, having previously contacted and informed the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople, and explained the events competently to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, issued an Encyclical Note to inform the population, which was read in the Holy Churches of the region during the Divine Liturgy on 19 August 2012.

Also, the Metropolitan with the decision of Act no. 55/16.8.2012 revoked the granted license to liturgize in the private Holy Church of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos in Paliambela Vonitsa and "prohibits its liturgizing hereafter, duly ordering its closure."

Please find enclosed the text of the Encyclical, as well as the Act of the Metropolitan.

From the Press and Communication Office of the Holy Meteropolis.

+++

Encyclical

THE GREEK REPUBLIC

The HOLY METROPOLIS OF AITOLIA AND AKARNANIA

Archbishop Damaskinou 10

302 00 Mesolongion

Tel: 26310-22322, 22421

Fax: 26310-28701

Website: www.imaa.gr

E- mail: imaa@otenet.gr

In the Holy City of Messolonghi, the 17th of August 2012

Number Reference: 743

To All and Especially to the Parish Priests of the Most Sacred Regions of Amphilochia, Vonitsa and Katounes.

For the present, as your spiritual father, who loves you and ministers your salvation, I wish to inform you on a topic that arose recently in our region, and I ask that you listen carefully. I sincerely want to say and assure you that I am not moved by any agenda or personal ambition.

The only thing that stimulates me to update you is the glory of our Triune God and your salvation. Archimandrite Anatolios Psychogios is known to all. He originates from our region, and he previously founded and operated the "International Academy of Saint Kosmas Aitolos" in Paliambela Vonitsa, and many times we co-liturgized in various Holy Churches of our Holy Metropolis.

We honored him and received him with love in our Holy Metropolis. Unexpectedly however he joined the schismatic Old Calendarists, and was elected and ordained "Bishop" in the sectarian faction of "Archbishop" Auxentios.

We do not have the time right now to explain his joining the schismatics of the Old Calendar. But I have to acknowledge to you that the "Bishops" of the Old Calendarists neither have apostolic succession, nor canonical ordination, nor do their Mysteries have validity. So the salvation of Christians following them is dubious and weak.

Besides this, I ask and urge you all paternally, to have no spiritual relationship or dependence with the severed from our Church, Fr. Anatolios.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos



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