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 23, 2019

Synaxis of the Saints of Kostroma


The Synaxis of the Saints of Kostroma was established in 1981 by the Russian Patriarchate to honor all the Saints associated with the Kostroma diocese. The Synaxis was established to be celebrated on the feast of Saint Gennadius of Kostroma, which is January 23rd. That same year, at the initiative of Archbishop Cassian (Yaroslav) of Kostroma and Galich, the Cathedral of the Kostroma Saints was founded. The Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates is the heavenly patron of the city of Kostroma. However, this Saint is not included in the Kostroma Saints Cathedral.


The Saints of Kostroma include:

St Abramius of Galich, or Chukhloma Lake (July 20)

St Adrian of Monza (May 5)

St Alexander of Galich, abbot of Voche (March 27)

St Barnabas abbot of Verluga (June 11)

St Cyril of New Lake (February 4, November 7)

St Cyril of White Lake (June 9)

St Dionysius, Archbishop of Suzdal (June 26, October 15)

St Gennadius, abbot of Kostroma (August 19)

St Gregory, abbot of Pelshme, wonderworker of Vologda (September 30)

St James of Brileev (April 11)

St James of Galich Monastery (April 4, May 30)

St James of Zheleznoborovsk (April 11, May 5)

St Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow (March 31, May 27, June 15)

St Macarius, abbot of Zheltovod and Unzha (July 25)

St Macarius of Pisma Monastery (January 10)

St Metrophanes, bishop of Voronezh (August 7, September 4, November 23)

St Pachomius, abbot of Nerekhta (March 21, May 15)

St Paisius, abbot of Galich (May 23)

St Paul of Obnora (January 10, October 7)

St Therapon of Monza (May 27, December 1).


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