ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Saint Demetrianos, Bishop of Ketheria in Cyprus (+ c. 915)

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.

November 6, 2018

Saint Demetrianos, Bishop of Ketheria in Cyprus (+ c. 915)

St. Demetrianos of Ketheria (Feast Day - November 6)

Saint Demetrianos was a native of the village of Syka in the district of Ketheria, and was connected with the service of the Church from his earliest years, since his father was a priest. After much opposition he consented to his parents' entreaties to take a wife, but being left a widower three months after marriage he became a monk at the Monastery of Saint Anthony near Ketheria. There he devoted himself to strict fasting, prayer, obedience and vigils, becoming an example and model to all the monks, and a source of spiritual gifts to the faithful who came to see him.

At the request of Bishop Eustathios, by whom he was ordained a monk, he was appointed to the Bishopric of Ketheria (Chytri). During his occupation of the See there occurred one of the numerous Muslim invasions, to which for some centuries the island was so frequently exposed. Many of his flock were carried away by the raiders to Egypt in around 911-912. The good bishop, commiserating the fate of his flock, followed them into captivity and by his intervention secured their release and restoration to their native land.

He is reported to have died a natural death around the year 915 when he was 81. He is considered in Cyprus to be the patron saint of refugees.

Chapel of Saint Demetrianos in the village of Tersefanou in Larnaka,
built near the ruins of an ancient temple in the year 2000.