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 27, 2017

The Abbot of the Monastery of the Venerable David on the Canonization of Elder Iakovos Tsalikes

Elder Gabriel of Venerable David Monastery

Immediately following the decision of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to canonize Elder Iakovos Tsalikes, the Abbot of the Monastery of the Venerable David in Evia, Elder Gregory, was immediately notified of the good news.

Obviously he was excited about the decision, saying: "The revered Patriarchate officially recognized the sanctity of Father Iakovos, which has also existed in the conscience of the faithful."

Abbot Gabriel added: "We have always associated the person of the Patriarch with the person of Father Iakovos, because he had mentioned his election."

The Abbot was speaking to Romfea.gr, of the time when the Ecumenical Patriarch as Metropolitan of Philadelphia had visited the Holy Monastery of the Venerable David in 1989, and Father Iakovos had told him: "Be prepared, for you will become the next Ecumenical Patriarch."

Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Halkidos

It should be noted that the one who submitted the name of Elder Iakovos Tsalikes to be officially recognized as a Saint of the Church to the Ecumenical Patriarchate was Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Halkidos, Istiaias and Northern Sporades. On Tuesday 28 November 2017 His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos will celebrate the Doxological Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Venerable David, to give thanks to God for the canonization of Saint Iakovos. Then on Friday December 1st a vigil will take place at the Church of Saint Paraskevi in Halkidos, which was originally to honor Saint Porphyrios Kavsokalyvites, but now a Service will also be chanted in honor of Saint Iakovos.

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