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.



February 24, 2018

Reflection for Clean Saturday (St. Theophan the Recluse)


By St. Theophan the Recluse

We have approached the chalice of the Lord, we have been at the Supper of the Lord. Glory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God! Now is the great day of the Lord! The most glorious celebration in heaven! There is no city, nor village, nor house, where there are no people receiving Holy Communion. Across the breadth of Russia, throughout the south and east, so many people clothed in the white garments of justification have tasted of the Divine life, and have most sincerely united themselves with the Lord! The Lord’s Body has been renewed — the Body of the Church, and has been clothed in the glory belonging to it, hidden from the eyes of man, but visible to the eyes of angels. The angels worshipped the First-born when He was brought to the world in His power; now they have worshipped Him because the world has been brought again to Him. They have worshipped Him and sung out: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre; Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness" (Ps. 45:6–7).


Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!