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.



May 21, 2015

The Helmet of Emperor Constantine the Great

Constantine: Silver Medallion 315 A.D.

The Helmet of Constantine was a helmet or form of helmet worn by the Roman Emperor Constantine I, now lost, which featured in his imperial iconography. According to Saint Ambrose and other early Christian historians, it included relics gathered in the Holy Land by his mother St. Helen. The helmet that Constantine wore had a nail from the True Cross that Jesus was crucified on, and Helen discovered on Golgotha. By making the helmet with one of the nails, it was supposed to protect him from any harm.

Theodoret says in his Ecclesiastical History, chapter 17:

The mother of the emperor, on learning the accomplishment of her desire, gave orders that a portion of the nails should be inserted in the royal helmet, in order that the head of her son might be preserved from the darts of his enemies. The other portion of the nails she ordered to be formed into the bridle of his horse, not only to ensure the safety of the emperor, but also to fulfill an ancient prophecy; for long before Zechariah, the prophet, had predicted that "There shall be upon the bridles of the horses HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD ALMIGHTY."

A rare silver medallion of 315 shows Constantine with a chi-rho symbol as the crest of his helmet, and Eusebius's Life of Constantine records that he often wore such a helmet in later life.

Constantine: Rare Siscia Coin 317 A.D. (?)

Constantine: Bronze Coin 336 A.D.

Labels: ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!