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.



May 4, 2019

Holy Martyrs Aphrodisios, Leo, Antoninus, Meles, Valerian, Macrobios and those with them of Scythopolis

Sts. Aphrodisios, Leo, Antoninus, Meles, Valerian, Macrobios
and Those Martyred With Them in Scythopolis (Feast Day - May 4)

Verses

To Aphrodisios.
Who is this that was cut at the neck by a sword?
Aphrodisios, Aphrodisios, he said.

To Leo, Antoninus and Meles.
Leo and his two fellow athletes,
Ran like lions towards the sword.

To Valerian and Macrobios.
The two heads of the Martyrs were joined together,
Arriving at the contest of fire which they endured.

On this day we commemorate our Holy Fathers Aphrodisios, Leo, Antoninus, Meles, Valerian, Macrobios and the multitude martyred with them in Scythopolis of Palestine. The Holy Martyrs Aphrodisios, Leo, Antoninus and Meles met their end by a sword, while the Holy Martyrs Valerian and Macrobios met their end by fire. Their Synaxis was celebrated in the revered Temple of the Holy and all-praised Apostle James the brother of the Lord, which was in the revered house of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos in the Chalkoprateia quarter of Constantinople.


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