ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: A White Christmas for Mount Athos (photos and videos)

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.

January 6, 2019

A White Christmas for Mount Athos (photos and videos)

Today is Christmas Eve in Mount Athos, and a few days ago it was hit by a heavy snowstorm, covering it with a thick layer of snow. This has caused serious problems for both the monks and the pilgrims to the Holy Mountain.

As of today, it was 37°F (3°C). In the capital of Karyes (altitude 350m) the snow reached 70cm (27.5 inches), while at slightly higher altitudes it exceeded 1.30cm (51 inches).

The entire road network is closed, but they are working hard to restore road traffic. The ships from Ouranoupolis to Dafni and other Monasteries are normally executed.

Pilgrims have been shut inside monasteries and sketes until there is further clean up. Sunday night, Christmas Eve, more snow is expected.

In the evening there will be a vigil in all the Monasteries, the Sketes and in many Cells. In the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra, Christmas takes on a special festal character since the katholikon of the monastery is dedicated to the Birth of the Savior.

The two videos below were taken in Karyes (top) and Dionysiou Monastery (bottom).