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.



December 20, 2016

The Heresy Tackled at the Holy and Great Synod


By Archbishop Anastasios of Albania

I think it is useful to recall that the Holy and Great Synod is not an exact copy of the Ecumenical Synods, nor is it a facsimile of Assemblies of the Western Christian tradition. Adapted to the circumstances and possibilities of the 21st century it has its own characteristics. It remains however as a tangible and clear symbol of unity of the Orthodox and a valuable institution for its life and witness in the contemporary world. There are some who believe that only an exact repetition of Synods of the past are authentically Orthodox. But the Holy Spirit does not act only in one era. He remains the determinant guide of the Church throughout the course of time. "Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together" (Apolytikion for Palm Sunday)....

Some have raised the question: In the great Orthodox Synods some heresy was addressed. What heresy is to be tackled by the Holy and Great Synod? The answer is simple. The greatest heresy, the mother of heresies - egocentrism. Personal, group, philetistic, parochial, ecclesiastical, etc. egocentrism, which poisons human relationships and every form of harmonious and creative coexistence. And on other occasions and conferences for world peace, we have expressed the belief that "the opposite of peace is not war but the egocentrism of individuals, nations, and various groups." And for this divisive disease the only antidote that remains is selfless love, as it was determined and incarnated by Christ and His faithful followers. This is why the contribution of the Church always remains timeless, valuable and irreplaceable....

The Holy and Great Synod is called to manifest in the contemporary world a dynamic Orthodox tradition, open to the searchings of humanity, constantly inspired by the surety of the Cross and Resurrection and radiating the truth and love and beauty of Orthodoxy. "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen" (Eph. 3:20-21).

Source: From the Address at the Opening Session of the Holy and Great Synod, 19 June 2016. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.



Labels: ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!