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.



April 19, 2018

Holy Hieromartyr Paphnutios of Jerusalem

St. Paphnutios of Jerusalem (Feast Day - April 19)

Verses

The grave of Paphnutios was hidden in the earth,
Neglected and silent it hides the grave.
On the nineteenth Paphnutios was thereupon raised up.
 
All that we know of Saint Paphnutios is gathered from the hymns chanted today, as no biography has been left to us. We therefore gather that he was a Bishop or Priest from Jerusalem, who for his faith in Christ contested with wild beasts, then fire, and he was finally beheaded by the sword.

Patriarch Germanos (c. 634-c. 733) composed a Canon in his honor, where he informs us that Saint Paphnutios' relics were glorified by miracles, dispelling demons and distributing abundant miracles of healing. The Patriarch also implores the Saint's entreaties, so that "by his intercessions, we might be delivered from the yoke of Ishmael's vengeance" (Ode 7) and "be granted victory, O Master, against the barbarians" (Ode 8). In Ode 9 there is a petition for the Hieromartyr to bring peace to the flock of Christ.

Some consider this Saint to be the same Saint Paphnutios celebrated on September 25th, who was martyred by crucifixion, but this is not likely. Others associate him with the Paphnutios that was a disciple of Saint Anthony the Great and was a Bishop of the Upper Thebaid, who also was a Confessor during the persecution of Emperor Maximian, but this also seems unlikely. The Saint of today seems to be a unique Saint, who was especially venerated for his miraculous relics, which seem to have been discovered in a miraculous manner and were a source of miracles.


Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
As a Priest thou didst offer the Holy Sacrifice, and as a Martyr thou was thyself a burnt offering. O Hieromartyr Paphnutios, God's steadfast Athlete and Treasury of grace, bestow grace on us who praise thee.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Thou didst redden thy priestly vesture in the streams of thy blood, and run joyfully to the heavenly tabernacle, O blessed Paphnutios, and cry out to the Saviour: Thou art the Fountain of Life, pouring compassion on us all.


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