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 24, 2018

Synaxarion of the Holy Hieromartyr Babylas of Sicily with Agapios and Timothy his Disciples

Sts. Babylas, Agapios and Timothy of Sicily (Feast Day - January 24)

Verses

To Babylas.
Previously Babylas contested against demons,
He also contested through blood.

To Agapios and Timothy.
Agapios together with Timothy,
Were known as sure imitators of the Teacher.

Our Holy Father Babylas was from the East, having been born to noble parents who loved God, in the notable city of Theoupolis (Antioch). He was raised in the education and admonition of the Lord and learned sacred letters, which more quickly bring man to God. Having loved God from a young age, he came to despise the world. After his parents died, he distributed their wealth to the poor and the widows and the orphans. Thus liberating himself of all the troubles and cares of life, he ascended a mountain and lived in silence, having with him two disciples Agapios and Timothy. He became a Priest, and worthily honored the office of the priesthood. After this he withdrew from there and went to Rome.

Because the bloodthirsty Greeks there aimed to betray him to those who governed, for this reason the Saint departed Rome, and went to the island of Sicily with his two disciples, spending a long time there, bringing many unbelievers to the knowledge of God through the grace of the Spirit that dwelled within him. Because a city situated on a mountain cannot be hidden, according to the words of the Gospel, so also the blessed one could not be hidden from the ruler of Sicily. The ruler therefore had him and his two disciples arrested, and immediately when he saw them confess Christ as the true God with boldness, first he had them beaten so hard that their entire bodies were bruised all over. He then ordered soldiers to parade them around the city, and at the same time punish them with various inhuman punishments. This was done, first, so that through this punishment he would bring fear to the cities of Sicily, and also, so that he may fulfill the passion and rage he felt against these Saints. The Holy Martyrs were strengthened during their torments, altogether having hope and looking forward to the eternal good things. On the next day, the Saints were slaughtered with knives, and their bodies were cast into the fire. The fire however did not utterly consume them, but they were kept sound and unharmed. Some Christians therefore took them, and honorably buried them on the island of Sicily.


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