ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Ardalion the Mime

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 14, 2018

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Ardalion the Mime

St. Ardalion the Mime (Feast Day - April 14)

Verses

Now Ardalion the mime of old,
Mimics the Martyrs enduring the flames.

Ardalion lived during the reign of Maximian (286-305), occupying himself in the theaters in comedies, mimicking this and that, and interpreting the sufferings and dramas of others. On one such performance he decided to mimic through his interpretation the resistance of the Christians towards the tyrants, when they were being martyred. For this reason he was suspended high and lacerated, because he did not want to sacrifice to the gods.

When the people saw this, they clapped their hands and praised his favorable imitation and bravery of heart. Then Ardalion cried out with a loud voice and said to the people to be quiet, and he proclaimed himself to be truly a Christian. The governor in the audience advised him to change his mind, but Ardalion did not want to be persuaded. Remaining steadfast in his confession of Christ, he was put into flames which had been lit there, and in this way the blessed one was perfected, and received the crown of martyrdom.