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 6, 2017

The Veneration of Saint Sisoes the Great in Serbia


Saint Sisoes the Great has a unique veneration in Serbia. Whereas in the Greek tradition he is most known for his depiction in iconography as standing over the bones of Alexander the Great, in Serbia he is highly revered and valued by mothers and women as a protector of children and a speedy assistant in every sadness and trouble. It is a tradition for pious mothers especially to fast for seven days before his feast on July 6th; this is an unwritten rule that is being followed by an increasing number of mothers. It is not exactly known how Saint Sisoes came to be associated with children, though it is similar to how Saint Stylianos is venerated among the Greeks as the protector of children. A portion of his relic is also located in the Monastery of Saint Basil of Ostrog in Montenegro. This relic is said to have been given as a gift from a Greek official.


 

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