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 25, 2015

Synaxarion of Saint Katherine the Great Martyr


On the 25th of this month (November), we commemorate the Holy and glorious Great Martyr of Christ Katherine

Verses

Katherine was wise and a virgin,
And a Martyr by the sword, O beautiful triad!
On the twenty-fifth the aid of orators was killed by the sword.

She lived during the reign of Maximian, and came from the city of Alexandria, being the daughter of the chieftain named Constus. At eighteen years of age she was very beautiful and well-built. She reached the farthest point of Greek and Roman, namely Latin, education and science: namely the Greek Homer, the Latin majestic poet Virgil, Asclepius, Hippocrates and Galen the physicians, Aristotle and Plato, Philistion and Eusebius the philosophers, Jannes and Jambres the great magicians, Dionysius and Sybil. She was trained in the entire art of rhetoric, as much as could be found among men. Not only this, but the all-wise one also learned many languages and dialects of many nations, so that she left in amazement not only those who saw her, but also those who heard of her fame and wisdom. During the reign of Maximian and Maxentius his son, she was arrested for confessing Christ, and underwent many and various torments. And with her wisdom and skill in logical argument, she convinced one-hundred and fifty orators to believe in Christ, along with many other Greeks. With them the blessed one was beheaded and received the crown of martyrdom.


Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone
Let us praise the most auspicious bride of Christ, the divine Katherine, protectress of Sinai, our aid and our help. For, she brilliantly silenced the eloquence of the impious by the power of the Spirit, and now, crowned as a martyr, she asks great mercy for all.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
O friends of martyrs, now divinely raise up a renewed chorus, praising the all-wise Katherine. For, she proclaimed Christ in the arena, trampled on the serpent, and spat upon the knowledge of the orators.

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