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.



October 4, 2012

16,000 Bulgarians To Get Their Own Church in Bari, Italy


September 28, 2012

The Bulgarian community in the southern Italian city of Bari, which consists of 16,000 people, will have a Bulgarian Orthodox temple of its own, the Bulgarian Culture Ministry announced.

The news emerged Friday after Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov met with Bari Mayor Michele Emiliano.

It will be served by Rome-based Bulgarian priest archimandrite Kliment Bobchev, the Culture Ministry said.

Bari Mayor Emiliano has promised Rashidov that the Bulgarian community in the city will receive a municipal plot to erect a temple of its own.

"The Bulgarian community in Bari believes in its identity and enriches us with its culture. That's why we will be glad to provid them with both a temple, and a plot for a new church," the mayor stated.

Thus, in his words, until they manage to build their own church, the Bulgarians in Bari will be allowed to use one of the existing Christian temples in the city to hold religious services.

Rashidov and Emiliano also agreed to hold reciprocal "Culture Days" of the respective city in Sofia and Bari.

The local authorities in Bari has expressed support for Rashidov's initiative for the signing of two Bulgarian-Italian memorandums – for the prevention of illegal antique trafficking, and for cooperation in film making.

Bari Mayor Emiliano has presented to Rashidov a silver replica of the oldest image of St. Nicholas.
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