ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Saints and Feasts of June 20

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 20, 2018

Saints and Feasts of June 20

On the twentieth the arch-sacrificer Methodios
was slain by the sword.

Holy Hieromartyr Methodios, Bishop of Patara

Holy Hieromartyr Methodios, Bishop of Patara (+ 311)

The Influence of the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius

Placement of the Relics and Garments of the

Apostles Luke, Andrew and Thomas,

the Prophet Elisha, and Martyr Lazarus in the

Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople

Placement of the Relics and Garments of the Apostles Luke, Andrew and Thomas, the Prophet Elisha, and Martyr Lazarus in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople

Holy Two Ascetics of the Desert

Holy Two Ascetics of the Desert

Venerable Kallistos, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Kallistos I, Patriarch of Constantinople (+ 1363)

Saint Nicholas Cabasilas

Saint Nicholas Cabasilas Resource Page

Saint Leukios the Confessor, Bishop of Brindisi

Saint Leukios the Confessor, Bishop of Brindisi

Saint Govan the Hermit

Saint Govan the Hermit (+ 586)

Holy Prince Gleb of Vladimir

Holy Prince Gleb of Vladimir (+ 1175)

Saint Nahum the Wonderworker,
Enlightener and Missionary of Bulgaria

The Summer Feast of Saint Nahum of Ochrid

Synaxarion of Saint Nahum the Wonderworker and Enlightener of Bulgaria

Sacrilege at the Monastery of St. Naum of Ochrid

Translation of the Sacred Relics of the

Holy Martyrs Inna, Pinna and Rimma

Translation of the Relics of the Holy Martyrs Inna, Pinna, and Rimma

Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos the Hodegetria

Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos the Hodegetria

A Miracle That Took Place Every Tuesday in Constantinople