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.



January 31, 2018

Saints and Feasts of January 31


On the thirty-first Cyrus and John were beheaded.

Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries 
Cyrus and John
 
Holy Martyr Athanasia with her three daughters 
Theoktiste, Theodota and Eudoxia

Saints Cyrus and John the Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries


Holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor and Nikephoros

Holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nikephoros, Claudius, Diodoros, Sarapinos and Papias of Corinth


Holy Martyr Claudius

Holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nikephoros, Claudius, Diodoros, Sarapinos and Papias of Corinth


Holy Martyr Diodoros

Holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nikephoros, Claudius, Diodoros, Sarapinos and Papias of Corinth


Holy Martyr Sarapinos

Holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nikephoros, Claudius, Diodoros, Sarapinos and Papias of Corinth


Holy Martyr Papias

Holy Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nikephoros, Claudius, Diodoros, Sarapinos and Papias of Corinth


Holy Martyr Tryphaine

Synaxarion of Saint Tryphaine the Martyr


Saint Julias the Presbyter of Aegina

Saints Julian and Julias the Missionaries from Aegina


Venerable Marcella of Rome



Venerable Melangell the Hermitess of Wales

Saint Melangell the Hermitess of Wales (+ 641)


Saint Nikitas of the Kiev Caves, Bishop of Novgorod
 
 
 

Holy New Martyr Elias Ardounis of Kalamata

Holy New Martyr Elias Ardounis of Kalamata (+ 1686)

The Church Built Over the Spot Where the Holy New Martyr Elias Ardounis was Martyred in Kalamata


Venerable Arsenios the New of Paros
 
 
 
Synaxis of the Panagia the Dakryroousa in Kefallonia
 


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