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 29, 2015

Saint Philoumenos of Ancyra

St. Philoumenos of Ancyra (Feast Day - November 29)

Verses

The feet of Philoumenos were pierced with nails,
Loving Christ and being loved by God.

During the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275), the Holy Martyr Philoumenos, who was from Lycaonia and had as an occupation the delivery of wheat to Galatia, was brought before the governor of Ancyra, whose name was Felix. 

Having confessed that he was a Christian, they first hammered nails through his feet and tore at his flesh. Then they pierced him with a wooden blade, and placed him in a lit furnace. However, he remained unscathed by the power of Christ. 

For this reason they hammered nails through his head and hands and legs. Then they forced him to run a distance of thirty stades, which equals to about four miles. This caused the athlete of Christ to die of exhaustion and loss of blood, so he gave his holy soul into the hands of God, from Whom he received the incorruptible crown of martyrdom.


Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Let us acclaim Paramonos and Philoumenos as divine servants, and illustrious athletes of Christ our God, for out of love for Him they defeated the lawless by their contest, and they pray for us that forgiveness may be granted to all.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
As martyrs enlisted by Christ through faith, you cut down the ranks of the enemy. And when you received the crown of victory, you became equal in honor to the Angels, O blessed Paramonos and wise Philoumenos.

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