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 31, 2012

Turkey Celebrates Victory Against the Greeks on Aug. 30


Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı) on August 30 is a national holiday in Turkey to commemorate the victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar against the Greeks, one of the final battles and the most decisive one in the Turkish War of Independence in 1922.

Turks often rewrite history to make their battles noble and justified, and the commemoration of Victory Day is no exception. According to the Turks, Greeks were invaders of Turkey and occupied Turkish land, which is why they were expelled in 1922. More accurately, this battle was meant to be a Greek War of Independence after being occupied by the Ottomans for hundreds of years.

For a Turkish take on this celebration, read "Turkey Recognizes Victory Day Aug. 30".

For a general history of the Battle of Dumlupınar, read here. This battle marked the beginning of the end of the Greek presence in Anatolia.

2012 marks the 90th Victory Day in Turkey.

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