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 18, 2018

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

St. Iauros and Those With Him (Feast Day - June 18)

Verses

You were beheaded Isauros with your five fellow athletes,
Thus cutting at the middle of the heart the noetic dragon.

Saint Isauros, the Deacon of the Mysteries, and those with him, Basil and Innocent, were from Athens during the reign of Emperor Numerian in the year 284. Leaving their homeland, they went to Apollonia (which is in Albania, and commonly known as Polina), and there by a revelation from a divine Angel, they entered a cave and found Felix and Perigrinos and Hermias, who were Christians. Saint Isauros taught them to not love present temporary things. Thus they were fulfilled spiritually by the Saint, while they filled him bodily bringing to him food, thus confirming their words with their works.

Having turned away from conversing and living with their relatives, because they were Greek pagans, they in turn brought accusations against them before the prefect of Apollonia, whose name was Tripontios. The prefect had them arrested, and being unable to separate them from their faith in Christ, he gave the order and they were beheaded, and in this way the renowned ones received the crown of the contest.


Saints Isauros and Innocent were delivered over to the hands of the son of the prefect, whose name was Apollonios, and by him they were punished by fire and by water, and because they were paradoxically unharmed by these, many Greek pagans were converted to faith in Christ. Among the first of these were Roufos and Roufinianos, both brothers, who were also senators in the city of Apollonia. Finally they were beheaded, and they entered victoriously into the heavens.


Apolytikion in the Third Tone
The nine-fold company of God the Word, Isauros, Felix and Hermias, Peregrinos and Innocent, Manuel and Basil, glorious Ishmael and blessed Sabel, put to flight the enemy hosts. As the Lord's martyrs they received the prizes of victory.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Wounded with faith and love for Christ, you faithfully drank the martyr's cup, and overthrew the Persian idol's impudence. O blessed Martyrs, you are interceding with the Trinity for us all.


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