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 2, 2018

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Basil of Ancyra (+ 362)

St. Basil the Martyr of Ancyra (Feast Day - January 2)

Verses

The roaring, wide gape and bite of the wild beast,
Meek Basil did not fear.

The Holy Martyr Basil lived during the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363), and was from the city of Ancyra.* Because he believed in Christ, he was arrested, brought before the governor Saturninus, and with much boldness confessed Christ before him. Thus he was suspended and flogged without mercy. Then he was brought from Ancyra to Constantinople, and he was again flogged there. And the renowned one was placed under such tension, that the joints of his arms and shoulders were pulled out of their sockets. Then he was struck with leather straps, which were removed from his body. And with fiery irons they stabbed his flesh. All of these unbearable torments were endured bravely by this man who was of a staunch soul, and in return he received help and support from God. When he was cast into a fiery furnace, he was amazingly kept from being harmed by his prayers.

He was then taken bound to Caesarea, and sentenced by the governor there to fight the wild beasts. While he was praying a lioness struck him, and he died, thus receiving the crown of martyrdom. His sacred relic was then carefully gathered by some relatives and friends, wrapped in sheets with myrrh, and buried with the proper honor in a distinguished place. Later a sacred church was built there in his holy name.**

Notes:

* This Saint, a layman, should not be confused with the other Saint Basil of Ancyra, who was a priest (Mar. 22).

** His sacred head can be found today in the Holy Metropolis of Thessaliotis and Fanariofersala. A portion of his relic is also located in the Monastery of Makrymalles in Psachna of Evia.

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