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.



December 4, 2018

Holy Martyrs Christodoulos and Christodouli the Virgin

Sts. Christodoulos and Christodouli (Feast Day - December 4)

Verses

Christodoulos bears the same name with you,
Virgin Christodouli, and contests with you to the sword.

The Holy Martyrs Christodoulos and Christodouli the Virgin met their end by the sword.

The following hymns dedicated to the Saints were composed by Monk Gerasimos Mikragiannanites.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
The two athletes of Christ who contested together, let us celebrate with song Christodoulos as well as Christodouli, the flowers of the faith, who with the wings of divine love, contested with one mind, and destroyed the serpent, and do now entreat, on behalf of our souls.

Kontakion in the Third Tone
The brave Martyrs, and siblings according to the flesh, the wise Christodoulos, and Christodouli we honor, the instruments of the tyrant, they put to shame, thereby showing, the power of the Crucified One, O glory of Martyrs, as well as boast.

Megalynarion
Rejoice two-horsed chariot of the Martyrs, blessed Christodoulos, the communicant of champions, rejoice Christodouli, beautiful bride of Christ, revered Virgin Martyr, worthy of wonder.


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