ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Documentaries on St. Nicholas of Japan

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.

September 19, 2012

Documentaries on St. Nicholas of Japan

Unfading Light of the Rising Sun: the Memory of St. Nicholas of Japan

February 16, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Nicholas of Japan (1836-1912). Archbishop Nicholas converted to Orthodoxy over 20 thousand people, translated into Japanese the New Testament and the main prayer books, and built the Orthodox Cathedral in Tokyo. The film tells the story of Russia and Japan since St. Nicholas. It includes photographs of Japanese daily life of the Orthodox mission ands rare archival footage. The shooting took place in Japan, Tver, St. Petersburg and other places associated with the life of the Saint. Filmed with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and the Metropolitan of Tokyo and All Japan Daniel. In 2005, he received the Special Jury Prize at the XIV International Film Festival "Golden Knight".

The third film in the series "Planet of Orthodoxy."

The film stars the Metropolitan of Tokyo and All Japan Daniel, and makes one believe in the miracle of serving as a single person giving birth to a new Orthodox Church - the Church in Japan.