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.



March 26, 2018

Holy Martyrs Kodratos, Theodosios, Manuel and the Forty Martyrs With Them


Verses

To Kodratos.
I admire the bravery of Kodratos,
How the blessed one bravely subjected himself and was slaughtered.

To Theodosios.
Theodosios lived for God alone,
Giving up his life for Him by the sword.

To Manuel.
By the sword I shed forth a cup,
Manuel declared of his blood.

To the Forty.
Forty Martyrs by the sword,
Approached God, O the bravery!

These Saints were from somewhere in the East. When they would daily see Christians being put to death by the idolaters, they together agreed to boldly confess their faith in Christ, in order that they may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Of their own will they delivered themselves over to the ruler of that place, who at that time was examining and punishing many Christians. Standing before him, they confessed they were Christians. For this they were imprisoned, and after a few days they were taken out of prison, and they were suspended naked on wooden stakes, and their sides were torn into. Then they were dragged over caltrops, and finally beheaded, by which the blessed ones received the crown of martyrdom.


Labels: ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!