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 14, 2017

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Justus of Rome

St. Justus of Rome (Feast Day - July 14)

Verses

Unwilling to sacrifice on the fiery altar,
Justus was strangely placed as a sacrifice in the fire.

Saint Justus was from the city of Rome, a soldier in a place called Noumera, under the tribune Claudius. Once as he returned from battle against the barbarians, against whom he fought with his fellow soldiers, he entered into ecstasy, and beheld a crystal Cross, and from the Cross there came forth a voice, which taught him the mystery of piety. Therefore upon arriving in Rome, he distributed all of his belongings to the poor, and finding himself alone, he was glad for he acquired faith in Christ. When it was revealed to the tribune Claudius, that the Saint believed in Christ, he took him aside and advised him to pity his youth, and abandon his faith in Christ.

Unable to persuade him, Claudius sent him to the governor Magnentius. The governor questioned the Martyr, and he found him to be steadfast in his faith in Christ. For this reason he ordered that he be flogged with raw hides. Then he ordered an iron helmet that was heated in fire to be placed on his head. Meanwhile they were to place iron balls heated in fire under his armpits, and in his hands they were to fit other iron hands. After this they laid him down over a fiery grill. All these things the Saint endured bravely glorifying and thanking God. Then he was put into a furnace, where he delivered his soul into the hands of God, although not even one hair of his was burnt. His Synaxis and Feast is celebrated in the Orphanage.


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