ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Synaxarion of the Holy Hieromartyr Therapon of Sardis

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 27, 2019

Synaxarion of the Holy Hieromartyr Therapon of Sardis

St. Therapon of Sardis (Feast Day - May 27)

Verses

Scourged to death on behalf of the Master,
Therapon was anointed as a kindly healer.

This Saint became a priest in the city of Sardis because of his excellent and virtuous conduct. Arrested by the ruler Valerian for teaching the faith of Christ, he was bound and endured punishments. After this he was brought bound to the city called Sinaos, and then to Ancyra in Galatia. Arriving at the river called Astela, he was laid down on the ground on his back, and he was beaten with rods. With the ground being watered by his honorable blood, a tree grew with very big acorns that bore fruit. This tree remains there until today, whose leaves remain on it always, and it heals every long-term and short-term sickness. From there the Saint was brought to Thrace near the river Hermos, where the Diocese of Satala is located, which is under the Metropolis of Sardis. There the renowned one tasted many terrible punishments, and was finally beheaded, and by this he received from the Lord the unfading crown of martyrdom.