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 1, 2017

Synaxarion of Saint Romanos the Melodist

St. Romanos the Melodist (Feast Day - October 1)

On this day we commemorate our Venerable Father Romanos, Poet of the Kontakia.

Verses

Before Romanos sang hymns to God the Word,
Now also he sings hymns, but together with the Angels.

Our Holy Father Romanos was from Syria, having as his homeland the city of Emesa, which today is called Homs in Turkish. He was anointed Deacon of the Church of Berytus, which is now called Beirut. From there he went to Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Anastasios in the year 496. There he employed himself at the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, known as that of Kyrou, with every form of reverence and solemnity.


Many times he would keep vigil at the Church of the same Theotokos known as Blachernae, and he would return to the Church of the same Theotokos in Kyrou. There also, namely at the Church in Kyrou, where the Saint was employed, he received the gift of composing and putting into melody the Kontakia of the entire year. For the Lady Theotokos appeared to him in a dream, and gave him a volume of a scroll, which she commanded him to eat. When the Saint opened his mouth, it appeared that he swallowed it. Awakened out of sleep, he went up to the ambon, and began to chant: "Today the Virgin gives birth to Him Who is beyond substance." It happened at that time to be the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Having written such poetry for the rest of the feasts, as well as for the Saints, numbering over a thousand Kontakia, and having passed his life reverently and venerably, he departed to the Lord.


Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thou didst gladden Christ's Church by thy melodies, like an inspired heavenly trumpet. For thou wast enlightened by the Mother of God, and didst shine on the world as God's poet. We lovingly honour thee, O Venerable Romanos.

Kontakion in Plagal of the Fourth Tone
From thy childhood divine virtues and gifts of the Spirit were bestowed on thee, O wise Romanos. Thou wast a precious adornment of the Church with thy beautiful chanting, O blessed one. We entreat thee to grant us thy divine gift that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O most blessed Father, comeliness of the Church. 


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