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 25, 2018

When Fr. Benedict Petrakis Resurrected his Dead Benefactor


Archimandrite Benedict Petrakis (+ September 8, 1961) developed a magnificent pastoral activity in the Metropolis of Aitoloakarnania and especially in Agrinio. Many spiritual branches of this region bore fruit through his systematic work and his exceeding love for God and neighbor.

When he was young and wanted to study theology, he was helped financially by a pious woman from Patras, Melpomeni Bulbasakos. And when he became a mature preacher in Aitoloakarnania, he received a phone call informing him that his benefactor was near death and he was requested to go and give her final communion.

Immediately Benedict got into a taxi and hurried for Melpomeni's home in Patras. When he arrived at her stairs however, he met a deacon who was leaving the house who informed him that he was called to commune her instead due to the emergency because he was nearby, but when he arrived she was already dead.

"Did you commune her?" asked Fr. Benedict.

"I was not able to, Father. She died."

"Come with me."

They both entered the room where the dead body of Melpomeni was. It was full of pious Christians. Fr. Benedict said:

"Everyone kneel and pray!"

He also knelt. With his right hand he took her hand and with his left hand he touched her forehead; then he cried out:

"Melpomeni... Melpomeni... it is Benedict! I came to commune you!"

Then the miracle took place. She came back to life! Slowly she was able to barely open her mouth, so that he was able to commune her of the Body and Blood of the Lord. He then gave her some wine, saying:

"Drink it."

And she drank it. Then he gave her some water, and she swallowed it. Then he said to her:

"Go to sleep now and may we have a good reunion in the kingdom of heaven."

He then said to the deacon:

"Did I not tell you, brother, that she did not die?"

Then he addressed everyone in attendance, saying:

"Do not say anything about what you saw today, before my death."

Source: From the book A Contemporary Saint, Fr. Benedict Petrakis by Archimandrite Spyridon Xenou (Greek). Translation by John Sanidopoulos.


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