ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Saint Agathokleia the Martyr

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 17, 2016

Saint Agathokleia the Martyr

Verses

Agathokleia bears fire on her neck,

Dreadfully burning dreadful error by the neck.

The Holy Martyr Agathokleia was a servant* in the home of a certain Christian named Nicholas, who treated her with kindness and goodness. His wife Paulina was an impious and hard-hearted pagan, and for eight years the blessed Agathokleia underwent much abuse from her mistress because of her faith and in order to convert her to idolatry.

Sometimes Paulina would hit her hard on the neck with large stones, sometimes she made her run barefoot along rough and impassable ways, another time she struck her in the ribs with an iron hammer, while another time she burned her tongue. Such and many other abuses did Agathokleia endure daily.

Unable to persuade her despite all these abuses, Paulina finally put a fire on her neck,** and in this way the Holy Martyr surrendered her soul and entered heavenly rest.

Notes:

* Some sources say she was their daughter.

** Specifically, this was probably done by pouring burning coals on her neck or piercing her with a burning iron. Though other sources say she was entirely burnt alive.