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 1, 2015

Saints Kyriaina and Juliana of Cilicia

Sts. Kyriaina and Juliana (Feast Day - November 1)

Verses

To Kyriaina
Kyriaina in fire breathed her last,
Let all who have breath honor the great Lord.

To Juliana
Aflame, O Savior, with her love for you,
That flame from fire Juliana now bears.

Kyriaina and Juliana lived during the reign of Emperor Maximian (286-305). Kyriaina was from Tarsus of Cilicia, while Juliana was from Rosos, which is also in Cilicia.

In 298 Governor Marcian attempted to coerce these two women into denying Christ. Unsuccessful in his attempt, he had them subjected to harsh punishment. To shame Kyriaina, he had the locks of her hair and her eyebrows shaved. He then ordered her paraded throughout Tarsus naked four times, by disorderly soldiers.

Kyriaina was then taken to Rosos, where she was cast into the flames with Juliana. Hence, these two holy women were martyred in Rosos, and ascended victoriously to the heavens.

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