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.



September 12, 2013

A Letter of Elder Joseph the Hesychast to a Seminarian of Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline


To John,
Student of the Holy Cross Theological School,
Brookline of Boston

Mount Athos, on 06/05/1959.

To my beloved John,

I pray you have long health and illumination from God, that your mind may be opened by His good Spirit, just as He sent to His holy disciples.

Well, good son, fear God and do His commandments and all will be accomplished.

I received your letter today and saw what you enclosed, and I rejoiced greatly that you asked for nourishment for your soul. Hasten therefore, my good child, and first of all say the Prayer. Remember the name of God, that God may also remember you in times of temptation.

Whatever you do in your mind and thoughts, say at every moment: "John, be careful for God sees you; He is present, He is next to you. He sees everything and beyond; do not allow yourself to entirely forget Him in anything. You are a worm next to Him, an ant."

For God is a God of many eyes, from which He sees everything. Before your mind moves to form a thought, God knows it. Why, therefore, do you not see it? The vision of God is the knowledge of God.

Therefore, when you don't sin, don't deceive, don't condemn, don't scheme against your neighbor, then you have fear of God. Then you are wise and understand God, and so as not to sadden Him you do not sin. This also is the vision of God, and God, Who sees all things, will cover you from the traps of Satan.

Behold the way in which you should protect yourself, my beloved son, from the traps of Satan. This suffices for the moment. I pray for you.

The humble Fr. Joseph

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.


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