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.



July 29, 2017

30 Greek Orthodox Shrines Dedicated to Saint Irene Chrysovalantou (2 of 3)


...continued from part one.

11. Chapel of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, Saint Nektarios and the Dormition of the Theotokos in Stenaka of Oinousses in Chios


12. Church of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in the village of Filoti of Naxos


13. Church of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in Kaminia of Lemnos (2001)

Building began for this church in 1993 and it was completed in 2001, when it was also consecrated. It was built and funded by George Karagiannakis to fulfill a vow. When his child came down with a serious illness, he vowed to Saint Irene that he would build her a church in Kaminia. After the child was anointed with holy water from the Monastery of Saint Irene in Lykovrisi, the child recovered and George fulfilled his vow. It is one of the most beautiful churches of the area.

One late afternoon in August of 2009, a four year old girl approached the church, and although it was locked and no one was around, she heard such heavenly chanting that she believed it to come from an Angel. About a month later George Karagiannakis departed this life.


14. Monastery of Saint Irene in Apoikia of Andros

This monastery was built in 1780 by two monks. By 1843 it was abandoned. In 1990 restoration work on the monastery began. The iconostasis in the church dates to 1806. The monastery is dedicated to both Saint Irene the Great Martyr, who celebrates on May 5th, and Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, who celebrates on July 28th. Their miraculous icon, in which they stand next to each other and is hanging from the iconostasis, dates to 1800 (perhaps making this the oldest known icon of St. Irene Chrysovalantou).

Before full restoration in 1992

After restoration






15. Church of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in the village of Katochori in Farsalon of Thessaly (1978)






16. Chapel of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in the village of Krya Vrysi of Karditsa in Thessaly



17. Church of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in Alykes of Volos (2004)

This church was built by John Lazoglou (1869-1931) who was from Magnesia of Asia Minor, and still belongs to his descendants. It was consecrated on June 27, 2004. It is dedicated to both St. Irene Chrysovalantou and St. Irene the Great Martyr, and there is also a chapel dedicated to St. Phanourios.





18. Chapel of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in Gannouli of Larisa




19. Church of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in Nea Eukarpia of Thessaloniki (2007)

This church is still in the process of being built, but it currently gathers for services in the basement, which was consecrated in 2007. This church is being built to fulfill the needs of the housing development built there, since there is no other parish within a close proximity.






20. Chapel of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou at the Monastery of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene in the village of Griva of Goumenissa in Kilkis (1992)



PART THREE

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