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.



November 28, 2016

Holy Martyr Eirenarchos and the Seven Women With Him

St. Eierenarchos and those with him (Feast Day - November 28)

Verses

To Eirenarchos
The murderess sword was the ordained lot,
Of Eirenarchos for you O Savior the prince of peace.

To the Seven Women
In the city of Sebaste there appeared dead,
Seven all-revered women by the sword.

The Holy Martyr Eirenarchos was from the city of Sebaste. At a young age, he held the office of being an executioner: punishing those condemned by the emperor. Wherefore it follows that he participated in torturing the Holy Martyrs of Christ at the instigation of persecutors and tyrants.

One day it happened that seven pious Christian women were being tortured by Maximus the governor of Sebaste, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). When Eirenarchos saw how these women, despite being ill, were facing torture for Christ bravely, and disgraced the tyrant, he became illumined in his soul by divine grace. Thus he boldly confessed Christ and proclaimed himself a Christian.

First he was cast alive into a nearby marshy lake at the order of the governor. Coming out alive from the marshy lake, he was put into a flaming furnace. Astonishingly he was kept unharmed, and his head was cut off by a sword together with the presbyter Akakios who had baptized him. In this way both of them received crowns of martyrdom.


Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thou didst confess the Prince of Peace with faith, and abandon the lord of error and turmoil, O wise Eirenarchos. Thou didst pass through fire and water, and emerge as a trophy-bearer. Pray that peace and salvation may be granted unto all.

Kontakion in Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O soldier and martyr of the Prince of Peace, thou didst destroy the prince of darkness by thy brave resistance. Thou dost ever preserve in peace, O Eirenarchos, those who honour thy achievements with faith.

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