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 21, 2012

Synaxis of Panagia the Giatrissa in Thirasia


Thirasia is a small Greek island situated to the west of Santorini in the Cyclades. Its population is about 250 people and its inhabitants are mostly occupied with agriculture. The only track of the island will lead you to the church of Agia Irini (Saint Irene) which is said to have given Santorini its current name (Santa Irini - Santorini).

The Church of Panagia the Giatrissa (the Physician) is found in Potamo in Thirasia and is dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8).

The celebration of the feast of Panagia the Giatrissa takes place on September 21st because the church was built in the 1950's by a family who were Old Calendarists, and when the church changed from the Old to the New Calendar (there is a 13 day difference between both calendars) the then Bishop did not change the feast day because the celebration of the church on that date was deeply embedded among the inhabitants.















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