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.



November 22, 2017

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Cecilia and Those With Her

St. Cecilia the Virgin Martyr (Feast Day - November 22)

Verses

To Cecilia.
Brought to the bath you were burnt, O Cecilia,
And washed in the bath with blood by the sword.

To Valerian and Tiburtius.
Valerian together with his fellow athlete,
Are slain with the sword being insolent towards delusion.

To Maxmos the Keeper of the Keys.
Maximos the prison keeper is tortured,
Immediately becoming a keeper of the commandments of God.

The above mentioned Martyrs contested in Rome during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Cecilia was from an illustrious family, and was engaged to Valerian. She drew him towards faith in Christ, and urged him to pass the rest of their lives in virginity. Valerian also drew in his brother according to the flesh Tiburtius to the knowledge of God. Tiburtius arrived at such extreme virtue, that he was made worthy to converse daily with the Angels.

Because they were burying the relics of the Holy Martyrs, they were accused before the eparch of the city. Confessing Christ before him, they were given over to the keeper of the keys of the prison Maximos to be beheaded by him. Because he saw Angels, following the beheading of the Saints, attending their souls, for this reason he also believed in the Lord, and died under torture.

Saint Cecilia was placed in a heavily heated bath, and prevented from going out for three days. Finally she was beheaded in the bath and in this way the blessed one received the crown of martyrdom.


Apolytikion in the Third Tone
By the radiance of thy holy life, thou didst draw the two brothers united in spirit into the Eternal Light. O Cecilia, as fellow-contestants, you were counted worthy of divine glory. Ask that we who praise you may receive the forgiveness of our sins.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
Let the multitude of the faithful praise Cecilia, who was wedded to Christ and adorned in heart with virtue. For she put to shame the audacity of Almacius, and shone forth as the sun on those who sought her. Then to those on earth she was a divine support and she strengthened the faithful.

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