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.



October 30, 2018

Holy Martyrs Alexander, Cronion, Julian, Makarios and another Thirteen Companions

Sts.  Alexander, Cronion, Julian, Makarios and the Thirteen with them (Feast Day - October 30)

Verses

To Alexander and Cronion.
With Alexander to the boiling lime,
Was brought Cronion his son who did not reverence Cronus.

To Julian and Makarios.
By the sword Julian and Makarios,
Found the most blessed life.

To the Thirteen.
Neither lit fire, nor sharp sword O Word,
Could separate the two times five plus three men from you.

These Saints contested during the reign of Emperor Decius in Alexandria in the year 250. Alexander was the first to be brought to trial, and unable to stand upright, because he suffered from gout in the feet, for this reason he together with his servant (or son) Cronion, were paraded through the marketplace while riding on a camel. After this they were suspended and beaten. Finally, boiling and burning lime was poured on them, and the blessed ones by this punishment delivered their souls into the hands of God.

Julian and Makarios, after receiving many punishments, afterwards were beheaded. Regarding the other thirteen, some were thoroughly lacerated, others were burned, and others were beheaded. None of them denied their faith in Christ. In this way all the blessed ones together received the crowns of martyrdom.


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