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.



June 11, 2013

A Blind and Deaf Girl Healed by the Theotokos at Kiev Caves Lavra


Lena Melnitschenko was born healthy, yet at the age of 12 years old she lost her sight and her hearing. From the beginning the doctors did not give hope to the family of Lena, stressing that the situation was very difficult and irreversible.

The diagnosis that was made was that she had "a tumor in the optic nerve", which is not curable and deprives the patient of the gift of sight. As if this was not enough, Lena also began to lose her hearing until she was no longer able to hear.

Yet Lena never stopped hoping. She would frequently visit the Kiev Caves Lavra and especially prayed before the miraculous icon of Panagia Pantanassa. After two years of praying, patience and perseverance, the Panagia performed her miracle.

One day while she was praying in darkness, a ray of sun broke the darkness that had overwhelmed her eyes for years. The first thing she saw after so many years of blindness was the miraculous icon of the Panagia.

The Mother of God and the Mother of us all did her miracle once again. The news spread immediately. Lena immediately went to visit her doctors (from Israel and Ukraine) who watched her and confirmed in amazement the miracle.

After a few months Lena also began to hear - the miracle was now complete. At this moment Lena enjoys perfect bodily and spiritual health and continues to visit the Panagia who helped her so much and made her a living example of faith, patience and prayer.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER