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 12, 2017

Saint Anthos of Palestine, Companion of Saint Savvas the Sanctified

St. Anthos of Palestine (Feast Day - December 12)

Verses

Suitably the Prophet David said,
As a flower of the field, so Anthos flourishes.

When Saint Savvas the Sanctified was living in asceticism in the desert of Rouba, there came to him and stayed with him a monk named Anthos, who had lived with Saint Theodosios in the Church of the Cathisma. While they were living in this desert, they were set upon by Saracens, six in number, barbarous in character and mischievous in intent.

Incited by malice, one of their number was sent to presumably attack both monks and take them prisoner if they resisted this single man. On seeing their plight, the blessed fathers in no way yielded to panic, but ascending to God with the eye of the soul, they prayed earnestly to be delivered from the plot of these wicked barbarians. Instantly the earth opened and swallowed the barbarian intending to test them, at which the rest, on seeing the terrifying miracle, fled panic-stricken.

From then on our father Savvas received the divine grace of never being in fear of barbarian plots; and this was the first time that our father Savvas, through living with blessed Anthos, became known to the blessed Abba Theodosios, before the foundation of his holy and celebrated monastery.

Our Venerable Father Anthos reposed in peace.

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