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.



September 6, 2016

13 Holy Martyrs Beheaded in Alexandria Under Decius Celebrated on September 6th


On the sixth of this month [September], we commemorate the Holy Martyrs Kalodoti who was with child, Faustus the presbyter, Makarios and Andrew, Bibos the monk, Kyriakos, Dionysios and Andronikos, Andropelagia and Thekla, Theoktistos the sea captain, Kyriakos the commoner and Sarapabon the councillor, who met their end by the sword.


Verses

Holy Martyr Kalodoti, who was pregnant with child, met her end by the sword.

Kalodoti's head was struck off with a sword,
A giver of good before You stands O Word.

Holy Martyr Faustus the Presbyter met his end by the sword.

By a sword Faustus left the earth,
And came to the brightness of the dwelling on high.

Holy Martyrs Makarios the Citizen and Andrew the Hairdresser met their end by the sword.

When Andrew and Makarios died by the sword,
Both made a journey by a blessed path.

Holy Martyr Bibos the Deacon and Monk met his end by the sword.

The crown of virtue Bibos would have been denied,
Had he not received the crown of martyrdom.

Holy Martyrs Kyriakos the disciple of Saint Faustus, Dionysios the Reader and Andronikos the Soldier met their end by the sword.

With Dionysios two also were of one mind,
With Dionysios they were slain by the sword.

Holy Martyrs Andropelagia and Thekla, who were virgins and sisters according to the flesh,* met their end by the sword.

How bravely Andropelagia went,
To execution as did Thekla too.

Holy Martyr Theoktistos the Sea Captain met his end by the sword.

Theoktistos the Ship Captain with his head struck off,
Steers the vessel of his soul to the vault above.

Holy Martyr Kyriakos the Commoner met his end by the sword.

Kyriakos a commoner, but by the sword
A fellow banqueter of the choir of Martyrs.

Holy Martyr Sarapabon the Councillor met his end by the sword.

Perhaps there is no better councillor,
Then the Martyr Serapabon by the sword.


These Saints lived during the reign of Emperor Decius (249-251), and in the year 250 were apprehended for being Christians by Governor Valerian of Alexandria, and were brought before him. Astounded by their firm faith and lack of fear in their hearts, he ordered that they be killed by the sword. After they were killed, Christians of Alexandria took their bodies and buried them, that they may be for the city of Alexandria a most precious and inviolate treasure.

Notes:

* It should be noted here, that perhaps the name Andropelagia is a mixture of the two names Andronikos (or Andrew as some sources refer to him) and Pelagia. Because in the Patmian Codex 266, commemoration is here made of one named Pelagia together with Thekla, and then of Andronikos the Soldier. Some Synaxaria also list their commemoration for November 3rd and the Sunday of All Saints.



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