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 10, 2017

Thousands Attend the First Celebration of the Newly Canonized Saint Vlasios of Akarnania


In a joyful and festive atmosphere, on 7 July 2017, the first official celebration of the memory of the Holy Hieromartyr Vlasios of Akarnania and those martyred with him took place in Sklavaina of Vonitsa in Akarnania, Greece. The official glorification ceremony of Saint Vlasios and his companions took place in August 2016 at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Participating in the liturgical celebration were Metropolitan Amphilochios of Adrianople, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, Metroplitan Theophilos of Lefkada and Ithaca, and others, invited by Metroplitan Kosmas of Aitolia and Akarnania.

A homily was preached by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, who spoke of the faith of the saints of God, and the expression of this faith in love. “Faith created love,” he said, “love gave birth to patience and testimony, and testimony to martyrdom… The saints are the light of the world… they are the sons of the Resurrection, the greatest benefactors of the world… With their lives they assure us that death does not exist.”

“So many centuries after their martyrdom, we celebrate this holy pilgrimage and the first official feast. It has been 1,011 years since Saint Vlasios and his co-sufferers Archimandrite Theokletos, the hieromonks Symeon and Ignatius, and the monks Nikephoros, Chariton, and Panteleimon, and a number of other Christians shed their blood in martyrdom at this place where we are. The saints watered the ground … with their holy blood for their faith in Christ, to bring spiritual fruits to the region and the salvation of souls,” Met. Kosmas recalled.

The act of canonization of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was also read out by Archimandrite Epiphanios (Karageorgos), chancellor of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Both the icon and the wonderworking relics of Hieromartyr Vlasios of Akarnania and those who suffered with him are kept in the Church of Saint Paraskevi in Palairo, Akarnania.

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