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.



February 21, 2016

The Beloved Priest of Saint Porphyrios Has Reposed


Aimilios Polygenis
February 21, 2016

Today, Sunday the 21st of February, at the age of 88, the known military priest of Sfakia in southwest Crete, Papa-George Chiotakis, reposed.

The charismatic Papa-George was from the village of Nomikiana which belongs to the municipality of Sfakia, and he had twelve children, for which the President of the Democratic Party Kostis Stephanopoulos honored him as a super-multi-child priest.

"I am a Taliban of the Church, and I consider death as nothing. Whoever fears death cannot do a good deed, whoever is prejudiced against victory to fight is an idiot. Once I fight I'm a winner," Papa-George said not too long ago in an interview.

St. Porphyrios with Papa-George on the way to Kavsokalyva

We should mention that the late Papa-George was very much loved by Saint Porphyrios the Kavsokalyvitis, and the Saint often showed it.

Specifically, when Saint Porphyrios once came to Chania, he stayed in the home of Papa-George for two whole weeks, which Saint Porphyrios did not usually do.

Once Papa-George told me about a miraculous event with Saint Porphyrios: "My Aimilios, once I was going with Elder Porphyrios to a place here in Crete. Then in front of us we saw a river and I told him, 'Elder, if we only had a donkey!' And Elder Porphyrios responded, 'Where would we find one, Papa-George?' 'Here is one Elder,' I said pointing to myself. Then my Aimilios, I put him on a rock and took him on my shoulders. As soon as we entered the river Elder Porphyrios stroked my head and said, 'This should be a painting my Papa-George.'"

Papa-George then continued: "As we were returning and came once again to the river, I bent down in order to once again put him on my shoulder and, O the miracle! we found ourselves on the other side and I don't remember how we crossed over, nor were we wet!"

I was acquainted with Papa-George for many years, and many times I would call him on the phone and he would say to me: "My Aimilios, when will Elder Porphyrios become a Saint? He must become one..." he would yell from the other end of the line.

May your memory be eternal Papa-George.

* It should be noted that Papa-George reposed on the birthday of St. Porphyrios, Feb. 20th, which is Feb. 7th with the Old Calendar. And he lived to see the canonization of St. Porphyrios last year.

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