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.



April 28, 2017

Synaxarion of Saint Memnon the Wonderworker

St. Memnon the Wonderworker (Feast Day - April 28, May 19)

Verses

Seized by the last small sleep,
Memnon tarries with all who are of God.

Our Holy Father Memnon, bidding farewell to the world and all therein for the love of God, righteously and well-pleasingly passed his life in obedience and submission, which is why he became an abbot of monks. Having acquired gentleness and love, for this reason he also became a wonderworker.

Hence one time locusts fell upon the fields of the monastery, and the Saint emerged from the monastery to perform a prayer, by which he banished all of them as if it was fire, and they drowned in the river.


He also caused water to gush forth through his prayers in a waterless place, which still today gushes forth to the glory of Christ.

One time he appeared to certain sailors, who during a storm called upon him and asked for his help. Appearing in their midst, he steered the ship and prompted the sailors, so that shortly after he saved them without harm in the harbor.

Having done such wonders the renowned one passed his life, granting salvation to those who called upon him. Well-pleasing to God till the end, he departed to Him, bringing with him on the journey the wealth of his virtues.


Kathisma in Plagal of the Fourth Tone
You shined upon all as a star, gleaming with virtues and miracles, illuminating the world, we praise you blessed one, as a communicant of the divine, you became most brilliant, and with splendor Memnon, you entered the inner sanctuary, wherefore your light-bearing, and holy memory, we honor on each occasion, glorifying the Savior, and faithfully crying out to you, intercede to Christ God, to grant the remission of sins, to those who celebrate with longing your holy memory.


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