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 17, 2016

Synaxarion of Saint Anthony the Great


On the seventeenth of this month [January], we commemorate our Holy Father Anthony the Great.

Verses

Having the stature of heaven and intelligent beings,
You are the leader of ascetics Anthony.
On the seventeenth Anthony thereupon was lifted up.

Our Holy Father Anthony was from Egypt, and was taught the Christian faith by his father and mother. He flourished during the reigns of Diocletian (284-305) and Maximianus (286-305), attaining in age also the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337). Having therefore given himself over to a life of asceticism, and exceeding all the ascetics and venerable ones of his time, he became for all those that came after him an example and model of asceticism. And the amazing thing is, that he was the first, or among the very few, who originated such a super human asceticism and angelic state, and practically alone attained the highest peak of such a state, as his extensive biography records.


We are unable to record these things, due to our short treatment of the subject, however this Anthony the Great is famous to many. It is only necessary to say the following, that this Great Father even while wearing his corruptible body, would be taken out of his body, and would see the ascension of souls, when they came out of the bodies of men. And he would see the souls of some of these men ascend higher than the demons, who sought to capture them, while others would be captured, alas! and were brought down into a deep abyss.


Having lived one hundred and five years, he departed to the Lord in the year 366. His Synaxis and Feast is celebrated in the most holy Great Church. (His extensive biography was written by Athanasius the Great of Alexandria in Greek and sent to the Monks of Egypt.)


Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thou didst follow the ways of zealous Elijah, and the straight path of the Baptist, O Father Anthony. Thou didst become a desert dweller and support the world by thy prayers. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Thou didst abandon the world's tumult and live in silence, and emulate the Baptist, O Anthony. Wherefore we acclaim thee with him, thou summit of the Fathers.

Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!