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.



July 20, 2014

What Sirach Said About Elijah the Prophet


Below is an excerpt from the Book of the All-Virtuous Wisdom of Joshua ben Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, chapter 48:1-12. Note how this excerpt, written approximately 200 years before the coming of Christ, addresses the Prophet in a manner like most Orthodox hymns to saints. It is a direct address of praise.

Then Elijah the prophet rose up like fire, and his word burned like a torch. He brought a famine upon them, and he reduced their number by his zeal. By the Lord's word he shut up the sky, and in the same way he brought down fire three times.

How glorious you were, Elijah, in your amazing deeds! Who will boast like you can? You raised a corpse from death, from the grave by a word of the Most High. You brought kings down to destruction and dragged the famous from their beds. You heard a rebuke at Sinai and decrees of punishment at Horeb. You anointed kings to bring retribution and prophets to succeed you. You were taken up in a whirlwind of fire and in a chariot of fiery horses. It is recorded that you are ready for the designated times, to calm the judgement of the Lord before it turns to wrath, to turn the heart of a father to his son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. Blessed are those who saw you and who have fallen asleep in your love, for we will surely live as well.

Elijah was covered by a whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit.

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