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 5, 2015

Saint Philotheos of Karyes (+ 15th cent.)

St. Philotheos Kariotis (Feast Day - December 5)

Verses

You are a friend of God thrice-blessed Philotheos,
Now you stand before the face of God above.

The venerable Philotheos was the Elder of the Cell of the Archangels of Dionysios Iagaris, in Karyes of Mount Athos. This Cell belonged to the Monastery of Great Lavra, and still exists today. There Elder Philotheos lived a life of virtue and asceticism, guiding others along the same path, including Saint Nektarios the Athonite. For his holy way of life he was graced by God with the gifts of clairvoyance and foresight.

Philotheos, who truly loved God, reposed in deep old age, and departed to his desired Christ. He was buried at his Cell. A Service was composed in his honor by the hymnographer Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis.

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