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 17, 2019

Synaxarion of Saint Agapetos I, Pope of Rome (+ 536)

St. Agapetos of Rome (Feast Day - April 17)

Verses

Dying what did you cry out? Savior I have loved you.
But you were loved even more Agapetos.

Our Holy Father Agapetos lived during the reign of Justinian the Great (527-565). Nurtured with every virtue and asceticism, he was elevated to the office of the hierarchy, and became Pope of Rome. He then went to Constantinople to meet Emperor Justinian, and while on the way, he showed evidence of his virtue and boldness before God. Coming to Greece he found a man who suffered with two untreatable conditions, for he could neither speak nor walk, though he was mute from birth, and he was forced to drag himself along the ground like a reptile. The Saint therefore took him by the hand, and made his legs complete and healthy, while in his mouth he placed a portion of the body of the Master Christ, and he was able to produce speech.

And when the Saint went to Constantinople, he performed another miracle. Going to the gate of the city, which is known as Golden, he found a blind man, and placing his hands over his eyes, the power and energy of sight returned. For his virtues and gifts of grace, he was worthily received with much honor, not only by those who ruled but also by the emperor, as well as by all the people. While he was there, he banished Anthimos the Bishop of Trebizond, who had falsely been elevated to the throne of Constantinople, for this cacodox man accepted the Monophysite heresy of Eutyches and Severus, and this delivered him an anathema. Instead of Anthimos, he ordained as Patriarch of Constantinople one named Menas, and he sat on the throne even though he had only been a Presbyter. Having lived for a short time after this, he departed to the Lord. His Synaxis is celebrated in the Great Temple of the Holy Apostles.*

Notes:

* Agapetos I was Pope of Rome from 13 May 535 to his death on 22 April 536.


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