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.



December 28, 2017

Holy Martyrs Dorotheos, Mardonios and Mygdonios

Sts. Dorotheos, Mardonios and Mygdonios (Feast Day - December 28)

Verses

To Dorotheos.
Dorotheos says "my head,
Which has been cut off I carry as a gift to God."

To Mardonios.
And I know of one Mardonios the Martyr,
Having affection for Christ, and enduring the flames of fire.

To Mygdonios.
Mygdonios is thrown into a pit,
Who happens to be known by all as a Martyr.

As Emperor Maximian continued dispatching soldiers to apprehend Christians around Nicomedia, there were three pious noblemen who were known to the emperor named Dorotheos, Mardonios and Mygdonios, and they were accused of being Christians. Standing before the emperor, they removed their belts of office and their cloaks, and fearlessly confessed Christ while rebuking the idols.


For this the Saints were flogged without pity with raw cowhides all night till the morning. This the Martyrs endured with silence, not uttering a word, but in their minds glorifying God. Then their hands and feet were chained and they were cast into prison. Seeing that they remained steadfast in their faith, Dorotheos was sentenced to be executed by decapitation, Mardonios was to be burned alive, and Mygdonios was to be buried alive in a pit. In this way the triumphant Martyrs finished their course.

Labels: ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!