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 9, 2018

On the Conception of Saint Anna (George of Nicomedia)


By George of Nicomedia

(Excerpt from his ninth century sermon titled "On the Child-b­egetting of Saint Anna".)

We had been made out of nothing by a pure act of the divine goodness, and we were destined to serve our Creator in the earthly Paradise, by the practice of holy works; but, repelling just commands, we drew upon ourselves the punishment of death by our own will. Nevertheless our Creator, acting according to His mercy, promised us our redemption and freedom; but we had to wait for the time appointed and for those who were to deliver us. Ages rolled by, the prophecies were slow in their fulfillment: all the Patriarchs and the Souls of the Just waited in painful expectation. Abraham had passed, and his descendants ardently yearned for the day which would behold the fulfillment of the mystery of Reparation. Moses caught a glimpse of it through the veils of the figures; he hoped to be the happy witness of the great event. That hope crossed the desert, it upheld the Judges, it was again confirmed unto Samuel. David made those of his own time skip with joy by announcing the nearness of its fulfillment. The choir of the Prophets proclaimed in bold accents that the Christ was soon to come forth; but one after another they disappeared deceived in their hope, for the appointed hour had not yet come, and those who were worthy had not yet shown themselves. At last the Creator of all things found unto Himself among His ancestors the worthy instruments of His designs, Anna and Joachim, the parents of Her who was to determine the accomplishment of the promise. To them, therefore, do we owe the Author of our joy and the first pledge of our happiness.


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