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 11, 2018

Saint Germanos Maroulis the Hagiorite (+ 1336)

St. Germanos Maroulis the Hagiorite (Feast Day - October 11)

Verses

Germanos, horn of extraordinary obedience,
You sanctified Athos with the streams of your sweat.

Venerable Germanos was born in Thessaloniki in 1252 to pious Christian parents, was the third of eight children, and baptized with the name George. From a young age he loved to pray, fast, keep vigil and help the unfortunate. Even as a child he would tell the workers in his household to rest from their labors, which his parents saw as a fruit of his love for his neighbor.

When he matured his parents wanted to marry him off, but he was preparing to forsake the vanity of this world for the monastic life. One day the virtuous elder John came to Thessaloniki from the Athonite Monastery of Docheiarion, where he dwelt in a cell nearby. In 1270, as his beard began to grow, he followed Elder John upon his return to his cell at Mount Athos. By Elder John he was tonsured a monk and took the name Germanos. He was especially distinguished for his superhuman asceticism and humble obedience. For work he was a calligrapher. They would often go to Vatopaidi Monastery for divine services.


Elder John and his disciple Gregory were martyred in Thessaloniki by the Latin-minded, and before his death he foretold the spiritual advancement of Germanos. Germanos first went to Karyes, then to Great Lavra Monastery, where he dwelt nearby in the Cave of the Panagia under the obedience of Elder Job. Due to the disobedience of the monks, Job was exiled from the monastery shortly after he became abbot, and dwelt in a cave with Germanos. Soon after Germanos took as spiritual fathers Elders Myron, Malachi, Athanasios and Theodoritos.

Before his life came to an end, Germanos took as disciples the disabled Ioannikios, after saving him through his prayers from certain death, as well as his ill nephew John and his ill relative Iakovos. At the age of 84, after a short illness, Germanos reposed in peace. His life was written by his friend Philotheos Kokkinos.


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