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 10, 2013

Advice From Patriarch Bartholomew to the Youth of Estonia


During his current trip in Estonia, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with students in Kihnu, and gave them the following advice:

Whatever you do in your life, no matter how successful you may become, the One who is the source of every good is God. In your life, my children, you will get to experience many dilemmas. There will be many times when you will be forced to choose between the good and the bad, between virtue and sin. This is why you must prepare for those moments from now, by living near to our Church and by struggling to apply the commandments of God and the Gospel; by studying the Gospel and other spiritual books, which the Church offers us. Remember that happiness is not found in ease and convenience, in wealth or much success. Whatever is tedious and laborious, this is what will sanctify you and give you a sterling reputation before God.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
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