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 3, 2015

Saint Theodoulos the Fool for Christ of Cyprus

St. Theodoulos of Cyprus (Feast Day - December 3)

Verses

Theodoulos shook the vine of Cyprus,
And when it made grapes he came to harvest it.

Saint Theodoulos the Fool for Christ lived in asceticism in Cyprus in an unknown time. When he was young he forsook the world for the love of Christ he had in his heart, and he became a monk. His primary occupation was fasting, praying, sleeping on stones instead of a bed, vigils and other ordeals in order to succeed in his illumination and sanctification. This led him to acquire the grace of God and the gift of  foreknowledge of the thoughts of men.


After receiving this holy gift from God he returned to the world and pretended foolishness in order to rebuke sinners with severity, revealing to them the secret thoughts of their souls, so as to lead them to repentance and a godly way of life.

Finally, after the Saint excelled in a holy way of life and brought many to repentance by his example and teachings, he departed in peace to Christ to enjoy the fruits of his labors. After his death, his holy relic was miraculous and worked many healings for the faithful.

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