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 31, 2017

Synaxarion for the Forefeast of the Procession of the Holy Cross

Forefeast of the Procession of the Holy Cross (Feast Day - July 31)

The commemoration of the Consecration of the revered house of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos in Blachernae, in which the Holy Soros is kept, and the Forefeast of the Honorable Cross, namely the going forth from the imperial palace of the Honorable Cross throughout the City.

Verses

The Cross comes forth from the house of the emperor,
Inhabitants celebrate for it brings protection to those in the City.

On this day in accordance with custom there emerged from the palace of the emperor the honorable wood of the Cross and it was brought near to the Great Church. It was met by the second priest among the candlemakers (keroularioi) who held a censer and censed, and at first it was brought into the Small Baptistry, where there is a sanctification of the waters in the silver fountain, and then it is placed inside the Holy Altar of the Great Church, namely Hagia Sophia. From the Holy Altar the Cross emerges and is processed throughout all of Constantinople until the fourteenth of August. Then it returns again to the palace, where it is put in its place by the chamberlains (diaitarioi) and the great Papias.

This going forth and procession of the honorable wood of the Cross takes place because, during the coming fifteen days of August, many illnesses befall the people more than any other days of the other months. Thus the honorable Cross of the Lord is taken around the City, sanctifying the air by its presence, as well as the buildings and the alleys and the wide streets, bringing health to all those it passes, and to all those it approaches.

See also:




Apolytikion in the First Tone
Let us receive O faithful, the honorable Cross, the weapon of salvation, approaching it with a clean mind, being granted divine grace, and healing of soul and body, through the inexpressible energies, of Christ our God.

Another Apolytikion in the First Tone
O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox and over their adversaries; and preserve your habitation by virtue of Your Cross.

Kontakion
As You were voluntarily raised upon the Cross for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace.


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