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.



January 10, 2013

Halki Seminary Has Been Returned


According to Rumvader (01/10/2013):

At its meeting today, the Council of Foundations - part of Turkey's Directorate General for Foundations (VGM) - decided to return to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Halki, the Hill of Hope as it is called, 190 hectares of forest.

The pine hill is 85 meters in height and located at the top is the School of Theology with the Church of the Holy Trinity (allegedly of the 11th century).

Since 1844, under Patriarch Germanos I, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity has hosted Halki Theological School.

This decision of the Council constitutes the greatest extent in minority property restitution that has been made to date provided for in Article 11 of the Foundations Law.

Undoubtedly this present decision of the Council of Foundations in Ankara is extemely important for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as the expatriots of the City.

Let us remember that in the General Council of Foundations in Ankara, a representative of the minorities, for a second term, is Lakis Vingas, Archon Chartofylax of the Patriarchate, who is knowledgeable of minority issues.

Lakis Vingas was found yesterday at an event in Komotini and is the man who became the first non-Muslim member of the General Council of Foundations, an institution linked to the Prime Ministers office in Turkey, representing 165 minority foundations. He gave an interview with O Chronos which can be read here.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos



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