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.



September 17, 2018

Holy Martyrs Maximos, Theodotos, Hesychios and Asklepiodota


Verses

For September 17

To Maximos, Theodotos and Asklepiodota.
One woman and two young men,
Went to decapitation with one burning heart.

For February 19

To Maximos, Theodotos and Hesychios.
Three strong men contested together,
Being brave even to decapitation for you Trinity.

To Asklepiodota.
Christ crowned Asklepiodota,
She whose head was cut off by the sword.

Synaxarion for September 17

These Saints for their confession of Christ were beaten by unbelievers, and after their sides were cut open they were thrown into a dark prison. Lastly their heads were cut off and they received the crown of martyrdom.


Synaxarion for February 19

The Saints above stood before the governor, and not being persuaded to deny Christ, they suffered many punishments. First they were suspended on a wooden pole, and they were torn by iron claws. Then they were forcibly moved from one city to the next. After this they were given to the wild beasts to be devoured, but divine grace kept them unharmed. Then they with Saint Asklepiodota were thrown to the ground and stretched out on wood, which was followed by them being tied up to a bull. All of them were afterwards stoned, then dragged through the woods in an impassable place, and after they were beheaded. In this way the blessed ones received the crown of the contest.*

Notes:

* The Menologion of Basil II for February 19th says Maximos and Theodotos were martyred by being cast into a furnace.


Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!