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.



April 2, 2019

Saint Gregory of Nicomedia (+ 1240)

St. Gregory of Nicomedia (Feast Day - April 2)

Verses

Just as a man on a horse wanders Gregory,
You came to dry land, O monstrous strange thing!

Our Venerable Father Gregory was born in 1190 and was from Nicomedia. From a young age Gregory lived according to the commandments of the Gospel. In his studies he was brilliant and diligent.

After some time Gregory retired to one of the famous monasteries of his time in Bithynia. There he shined with the virtues. Some corrupt monks however falsely accused him of stealing certain church vessels from the monastery. Though his innocence was proved, Gregory left the monastery and went to another monastery where his brother lived. There Gregory further developed his knowledge and his virtue, and for this he was ordained a priest.

At one point he ascended a mountain named after the Prophet Elias, where he built a cell and dedicated himself to hesychasm and study and guiding the faithful who came to him seeking his advice and blessing. Many benefited by his prophetic grace.

On the 2nd of April in 1240, at the age of fifty, Gregory reposed in peace. It appears according to various accounts of pilgrims that his incorrupt relic was kept at the Peribleptos Monastery of Constantinople, though we do not know when it was transferred there. The transfer must have taken place after the recapturing of Constantinople from the Latins.



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