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.



December 28, 2013

Christmas with Holy Elder Porphyrios 23 Years Apart


By Fr. Andrew Konanos

When on Christmas day, in 1990, I visited the Holy (now officially!) Elder Porphyrios in Oropos, he told me the following quote, and I still remember it after 23 years. I believe it is a phrase of Saint John of Damascus. So Saint Porphyrios told me: "For the knowledge of God's existence has been implanted by Him in all by nature."

In other words, to know and conceive that God exists with your mind, is seeded and planted, archetypally, in a natural and simple way within all of creation. Everything in the universe, in a mysterious way, speaks of the existence of God.

He said this to me while holding my hands within his, and he spoke slowly, meaningfully, and he lived it. And he transferred it to our soul.

May we have his prayers and warm love.

Venerable One of God, pray for us, your children, siblings and friends. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos

On December 24, 2013 the first mural of Holy Elder Porphyrios was completed in the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovac in the Church of the Ascension of our Lord, under the direction of master artist Vladimir Karanovića of Zarka. (photo above)
 
 
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