ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: A Chapel Dedicated to Elder Paisios in Alexandroupolis

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 8, 2014

A Chapel Dedicated to Elder Paisios in Alexandroupolis

By Kostas Karamesinis

When I heard about the chapel of Elder Paisios in Maistros of Alexandroupolis, immediately I had the desire to visit at the first opportunity.

Yesterday, therefore, when for business reasons I was in Alexandroupolis, I seized the opportunity and went to Maistros. I was fortunate to know the man who built the chapel and he was there, willing to guide me and provide for me information relating to Elder Paisios and his chapel.

Maistros is on the way from Alexandroupolis to the airport, in an area where you see nothing but trees and a river between them. In such a richness of nature is the chapel of Elder Paisios built.

It is a gem inside and out, its frescoes, its icons, everything is so carefully and reverently placed to understand that they were made with great love and care. The exterior is enhanced by the summer hospice which is a replica of the cell in which Elder Paisios lived in Panagouda of Mount Athos.

My friend Anestis, who built the chapel, gave me a lot of information about the Elder. He met him in 1987, being still a student, and since that day was visiting Panagouda every weekend to listen to the so many interesting things that he had to say. I realized that this was the reason the chapel was built with such perfection, and why my friend has in his house a little further away from the chapel a guest house and many relics of Elder Paisios. He even gave me ten books edited by him and containing excerpts from the discussions he had with the Elder in Panagouda.

My visit to Maistros lasted about two hours, but to me it seemed much more. I felt so fulfilled in a place that was built in honor and in memory of Elder Paisios. I believe that you would feel this if you find yourself in the same place.

For information about the chapel, contact Anestis Mavrokefalos: tel. 6955319555.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.