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.



December 25, 2012

Jesus Christ: The Reclining Lion of Judah


"Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?" - Genesis 49:9

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." - Isaiah 11:10

"The lion hath roared, who will not fear?" - Amos 3:8

"And one of the elders saith unto me, 'Weep not: behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.'" - Revelation 5:5


In these icons we see the Christ Child not sitting or lying down, but reclining (anapeson) to show that He is not a mere man, but God in human flesh. It depicts simultaneously the Divine and human natures of Christ. The youth of the Son of Man is depicted in his beardless face, while He shows features of adulthood to portray that He is the eternal Son of God. His halo further reveals His Divinity, wherein is inscribed the words "I Am", to show that He is the eternal God and long-awaited Messiah. The prophetic scroll in his left hand further illustrates that He is the one of whom it was foretold that He shall redeem the Children of Israel and bring Peace on Earth. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, at peace when He reclines, but fearsome when He roars.


Kontakion of St. Romanos for Christmas
Today the Virgin gives birth to the incomprehensible One; and the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable One; angels and shepherds glorify Him; the wisemen journey with a star; since for our sakes is born the eternal God, as a little Child.

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