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.



June 17, 2018

Saints and Feasts of June 17


On the seventeenth the three brothers 
were beheaded by the sword.

Holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ishmael

Holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel and Ishmael


Holy Martyr Isauros and Those With Him:
Basil, Innocent, Felix, Hermias and Peregrinos

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyrs Isauros, Basil, Innocent, Felix, Perigrinos and Hermias

Saint Isauros the Martyr and His Church In Kerkyra


Venerable Hypatios of Rufinianes
 
 
 
 
 
Holy Hieromartyr Philonides, Bishop of Kourion

Holy Hieromartyr Philonides, Bishop of Kourion


Venerable Joseph

Life and Sayings of Holy Abba Joseph the Anchorite of Panephysis


Venerable Pior

Life and Sayings of Holy Abba Pior of Scetis


Venerable Bessarion

Life and Sayings of Holy Abba Bessarion of Egypt


Holy Venerable Martyr Nectan of Hartland

Holy Martyr Nectan of Hartland in Devonshire (+ 510)


Saint Botolph of Ikanhoe

Saint Botolph, Patron Saint of Two Bostons

Saint Botolph, His Life and Times

Basic Timeline of the Life of Saint Botolph of Iken

Prayers to the Patron Saint of Boston


The Venerable Alfanov Brothers of Novgorod: 
Saints Nikita, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, and Isaac

The Alfanov Brothers of Novgorod: Saints Nikita, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, and Isaac - Founders of the Sokolnitzki Monastery


Saint Shalva of Akhaltsikhe

Saint Shalva of Akhaltsikhe (+ 1227)


Venerable Ananias the Iconographer of Novgorod 
 
 
 
Holy New Hieromartyr Parthenios Pagkostas of Patmos
 
 

 
Labels:

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!