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.



November 12, 2015

Holy Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite

Holy Prophet Achia (Feast Day - November 12)

Verses

Jeroboam bore testimony, the son of Nebat,
Of the Prophet Ahijah, before he died.

Ahijah (Achia) the Shilonite was a Levite prophet from Shiloh in the days of Solomon and Jeroboam, as mentioned in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings. Ahijah encouraged a revolt against Solomon "because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel" and foretold to Jeroboam that he would become king (I Kings 11:29).

Holy Scripture records two of his prophecies: 1 Kings 11:31-39, announcing through the rending of his garment the rending of ten tribes from Solomon which were to be given to Jeroboam as the Northern Kingdom, and 1 Kings 14:6-16, delivered to Jeroboam's wife, foretelling the death of the Jeroboam's son, the destruction of Jeroboam's house, and the captivity of Israel "beyond the river."

According to 2 Chronicles, Ahijah also authored a book, described as the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite which contained information about Solomon's reign. This text, however, has not survived and is one of the lost texts mentioned in the Old Testament.

Jeroboam bears testimony to the high esteem in which Ahijah was held as a prophet of God (1 Kings 14:2,3). Ahijah reposed in peace in deep old age in Shiloh.

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