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.



December 13, 2015

Saint Lucy of Syracuse

St. Lucy (or Loucia) of Syracuse (Feast Day - December 13)

Verses

As a Virgin, Lucy received one crown,
As a Martyr by the sword, she received another.

Lucy was from Syracuse, a city on the island of Sicily, and lived in the mid-third century. When she was betrothed to a certain pagan, she accompanied her mother, Eutychia, to Catania, also in Sicily, in order to venerate the relics of Saint Agatha (Feb. 5), for she suffered from a flow of blood. Lucy supplicated the Virgin-Martyr Agatha to heal her mother's sickness, and after arduous prayer she fell asleep. In her sleep she saw Saint Agatha in a vision, who promised to restore her mother to health, but also foretold that in the future Lucy would be a martyr for Christ.

Upon waking, Lucy's mother was restored to health, then the holy maiden dispersed her wealth to the poor, eager to go and confess Christ.


Having spurned her suitor as well, he slandered her to the Prefect Paschasius. Lucy was arrested and stood before the tyrant, and confessed Christ with courage. In return, Paschasius sentenced her to a brothel where she could be dishonored. Nevertheless, by divine intervention, Lucy's purity remained intact and she was unsullied, although one soldier after another tried to dishonor her, all attempts having failed, for they were unable to move her.

It was then contrived to light a fire where Lucy stood in order to move her. Still she did not move, and remained unconsumed by the fire. When the pagans lost hope, they decided to strike off her head at that spot. Thus the holy Virgin-Martyr received the crown of martyrdom.


Apolytikion in Plagal of the First Tone
Adorned with the radiant robe of virginity, thou wast betrothed to Christ the Lifegiver, and didst disdain all mortal love. Therefore thou didst bring to the Lord as a bridal gift the streams of thy martyr's blood. Intercede with Him for us all, O Virgin Martyr Lucy.

Kontakion in the Third Tone
We honour thee, pure Virgin and trophy-bearer, and praise thine illustrious contest. For thou didst desire only the beauty of Christ and didst disdain all things corruptible. O Lucy, when thou wast beheaded thou didst receive incorruptible glory.
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