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.



October 16, 2017

Saint Longinus the Gatekeeper of the Kiev Caves

St. Longinus the Gatekeeper of the Kiev Caves (Feast Day - October 16)

Saint Longinus, the Gatekeeper of the Far Kiev Caves, made his monastic obedience at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves. His prayerful fervor and humble love for work were rewarded by the Lord. The venerable gatesman was granted the gift of discernment. He encouraged the people who came to the Lavra with good intent, but he denounced those inclined to wickedness and urged them to repentance.

Not only was he a gatekeeper of Lavra of the Kiev Caves, but he was also a gatekeeper of his own heart. No vain thought or passion entered, for he constantly turned his spiritual gaze toward the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven, which the gates of the monastery were an image of in his mind, considering every way he may enter therein. To enter this gate, the closest union with God possible is needed, as He said: "I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture" (John 10:9). This divine communion with the Lord is what Longinus possessed.

He reposed in great old age and was buried in the Far Caves of Saint Theodosius. He lived in the latter half of the 13th and in the earlier part of the 14th century,


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