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.



June 1, 2015

Artemije, Former Bishop of Raska and Prizren, Has Been Excommunicated


Having been deposed as Bishop of Raska and Prizren by the Serbian Patriarchate a few years ago for disobedience (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here), and recently installing a new Bishop of "Old" Raska and Loznica single-handedly and not recognizing the canonical Bishop of Raska and Prizren, Artemije (who has gained fame among conservative and anti-ecumenist Orthodox for his association with St. Justin Popovich) was put on an ultimatum by the Patriarchate of Serbia to present himself and repent of his actions or risk being excommunicated. Refusing to respond to the Patriarchate, and not repenting of his act of schism, the Patriarchate of Serbia has officially excommunicated Artemije from the Church.

Thomas Anastasiadis
May 30, 2015

An excommunication and deposition of former Bishop Artemije to the order of layman went out today, Friday 29 May 2015, by the Holy Synod of Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Serbia.

The decision was taken following the refusal of the former Bishop of Raska and Prizren Artemije to receive the document of the Holy Synod which called him to repent and return to the canonical Church.

According to the Constitution of the Church of Serbia, the former Bishop Artemije and the newly-ordained pseudo-bishop of the non-existent Old Raska and Loznica, Abbot Nicholas, are cut off from the body of the canonical Church permanently.

The announcement of the Patriarchate of Serbia stated: "We pray to the Lord to give them repentance, which is the only path to salvation."

At the same time, the decision of the Patriarchate continues, the monks, nuns and laity, who until today participated in their worship and have supported the schism, are invited to return to the canonical order of the Orthodox Church and her Eucharistic unity, because their mysteries are not Mysteries (their baptism is not Baptism, their communion is not Communion), their blessing is not a Blessing, but it is a curse for all those who receive it, and the only way out of this situation without a blessing, is by repentance and returning to the bosom of the true Church.

Finally, the Holy Synod calls the monastics and laity who were spiritually deceived by Artemije, who thinks he is the only true Bishop, to be careful of their situation.

Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

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