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 13, 2018

Synaxis of the Panagia Phaneromeni (or Panagia of the Lepers) in Rhodes

Panagia Phaneromeni of Rhodes (Feast Day - Friday of Renewal Week)

Verses

Your Icon was revealed O Virgin,
Revealing to all your great grace.

The Holy Monastery of Panagia Phaneromeni is located a few kilometers outside the city of Rhodes, in the area of Ixia. In the location where now lies the Holy Monastery of the Panagia Phaneromeni, in the 19th century, was the leper colony of Rhodes, isolated from the rest of the world. One day, a leper found on the shore in the sand an icon of the Virgin Mary.

The discovery, or revelation, of the icon caused it to receive the name “Phaneromeni” (Revealed), and led to the building of a small humble church nearby in which the icon was placed. It also bears the name Panagia Louviaritsa, which means Panagia of the Lepers.

In 1863 the church was destroyed after an earthquake, but rebuilt in the latter 19th century or early 20th century after the icon was found in the ruins. Later, when the lepers were no longer in the area, the chapel was expanded with the help of Christians from the communities of Ialyssos and Kremasti, and in 1933 it was named a men's monastery, with the first abbot being Archimandrite Dorotheos Frangias.

During a two year period between 2009-2011, the katholikon of the monastery was completely renovated and inaugurated by His Eminence Metropolitan Kirillos of Rhodes on the 17th of October 2010.

Apolytikion in Plagal of the First Tone
Longing for your icon, I kiss it, which you revealed of old, out of your great compassion, you quieted the pain of the lepers, and your maternal gifts that were received, you reveal through it, as we cry: Rejoice Virgin Birthgiver of God, our protector Phaneromeni.






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