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.



September 27, 2015

Saint Epicharis the Martyr of Rome

St. Epicharis (Feast Day - September 27)

Verses

Brave was Epicharis before the sword,
Being richly endowed with divine grace.

Saint Epicharis (or Eparchia) was from Rome, and during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, in the year 298, she was arrested as a Christian by the Prefect Caesar.

She confessed boldly the name of Christ, and for this she was hung up and mangled with iron claws. She was then flogged by four soldiers with scourges tipped with lead. Due to the fact the Saint prayed, Angels came and killed the four soldiers who tormented her.

In the end, the Saint was condemned to be beheaded. Having arrived at the place of execution, while standing on a rock - O the wonder! - immediately a spring of water flowed from the rock. She was then beheaded, giving over her soul into the hands of God, from Whom she received the crown of martyrdom.




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