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.



January 5, 2016

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyrs Theopemptos and Theonas

Sts. Theopemptos and Theonas (Feast Day - January 5)

Verses

To Theopemptos
Theopemptos accomplished just as he said.
Having accomplished the contest, your head was cut off with the sword.

To Theonas
In the depth of the pit, Martyr Theonas,
You surrendered as you cried out the Psalter.

On the fifth Theopemptos departed this life by the sword.

The Holy Martyr Theopemptos was a Bishop during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). When this tyrant initiated a persecution against the Christians in the year 290, this Saint was first to confess Christ, and received the crown of martyrdom. He was arrested and brought before Diocletian, and rebuked him for his errors. Wherefore he was placed in a blazing furnace and came out safe and sound. Then one of his eyes was torn out, and after they made him drink a deadly poison concocted by the magician Theonas. Being preserved unharmed by the grace of God, the magician Theonas was moved to believe in Christ. Being tortured in other similar ways, he was beheaded, and so received the crown of martyrdom. Theonas was buried alive in a deep pit dug for this purpose, and in this way delivered his soul into the hands of God.


Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Arrayed in the robes of the Priesthood, thou dost put the enemy to flight by thy contest, O inspired Hierarch Theopemptos. Wherefore thou didst bring glorious Theonas to the knowledge of the Truth when he turned to the Lord. Pray together with him for those who honour thy contest.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
As priest of the Mysteries and God-like minister of grace, thou didst guide Theonas in martyrdom and bring him to the Faith, O Theopemptos. Together with him thou didst cry out in the stadium: Christ is the strength of the Martyrs.

Megalynarion
Shining with the radiance of your contest, blessed Theopemptos, you illumined the divine Theonas towards life, through the power of a miracle, and having contested together, remember us.

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