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 1, 2012

Holy New Martyr Haido of Halkidiki (+ 19th cent.)

New Martyr Haido of Stano (Feast Day - September 1)

By John Sanidopoulos

Saint Haido was from the village of Stano in Halkidiki and she lived in the 19th century. After the Revolution of 1821 she left with her mother and settled in Thasos, because a Turkish ruler sought her hand in marriage and she did not want to convert to Islam or marry a Turk. Because of her refusal she was tortured in prison to convert, but she continued to refuse to renounce Christ and her heritage. Till this day one can see where Haido was imprisoned in Stano. She only escaped because the village priest and some young men helped break her free.

In Thasos she entered the Monastery of Pantokratoros in Kallirachi, where she served in the church and lived a life of purity fully dedicated to God and taking care of her mother. After the repose of her mother she dedicated her whole life to prayer and fasting and she acquired spiritual illumination. It is said that she reached an angelic state by her heavenly way of life, and for two days she was caught up into Paradise where she witnessed heavenly mysteries. Upon her return she related her experience to Hieromonk Gerasimos who served in the Monastery.

While still young she succumbed to sickness due to her austere way of life, and she reposed in peace. Before her death, she advised those with her to not change her clothing before her burial. They however did not obey. When they went to change her clothing an earthquake occurred and thunder sounded and a voice was heard saying to put her old clothes back on. When this was done there was stillness and her holy relics began to exude a beautiful fragrance. She was buried in the cemetery of the Monastery.

The memory of St. Haido was kept alive locally and she was considered a holy woman. Due to her suffering for Christ, many hail her as a neomartyr. The Church of the Entrance of the Theotokos in Stano commissioned an icon of her to be made, which was done by the Cyrillian Brotherhood of New Skete on Mount Athos in 1960. She was canonized locally by the Metropolitan in 1988 and her feast was established for September 1.



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