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 26, 2013

The Divine Liturgy of Serapion Celebrated For the First Time


June 25, 2013

On Sunday, June 16, 2013 all those who attended the Liturgy in the Sacred Church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa lived a moment of devoutness, on the occasion of the celebration of the, until then unknown to many, ancient Divine Liturgy of one of the Holy Fathers of the holy and sacred Synods, Bishop Serapion of Thmuis.

The Divine Liturgy of Serapion was celebrated for the first time officially and with the license and blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus in the Holy Church of Panagia Myrtioditissa in Piraeus, according to ancient Alexandrian ecclesiastical order and decorum.

The Divine Liturgy was officiated by the Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Piraeus, Archimandrite Nephon Kapogiannis, who solemnly celebrated the Divine Liturgy surrounded by priests of the Metropolis.

Attending the Divine Liturgy was also the Professor of Liturgical Theology at the University of Athens, Mr. George Filias.

Mr. Filias reported on the Euchologion and the Divine Liturgy of Serapion, even interpreting different parts of the Liturgy for the faithful to better understand it, and praised the importance and richness of our liturgical tradition.


Translated by John Sanidopoulos
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