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.



May 20, 2018

Saints and Feasts of May 20


On the twentieth the head of Thallelaios was cut off.

Holy Martyr Thallelaios the Unmercenary
 
 
Holy Martyr Asklas the Egyptian
 
 


Venerable Thalassios of Libya

Saint Thalassios of Libya (+ 648)


Venerable Mark the Hermit

Saint Mark the Anchorite of Athens

Venerable Mark the Hermit


Venerable Niketas, John and Joseph, 
Founders of Nea Moni in Chios

Synaxarion of our Venerable Fathers Niketas, John and Joseph, Founders of Nea Moni in Chios


Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas 
the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari

Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari in 1087

The Transfer of the Body of Saint Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bari in Italy (A 13th cent. Anonymous Greek Account)

Service for the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas of Myra (St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite)

The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas in Spata

Saint Nicholas of Myra Resource Page


Saint Lydia of Philippi


Saints Zabulon and Susanna

Saints Zabulon and Susanna, Parents of Saint Nina of Georgia


Saint David of Gareji
 
 
 
The Finding of the Honorable Relics of our Holy Father Alexis, 
Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, the Wonderworker
 
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