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.



June 13, 2019

Saint Andronicus, Disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh (+ 1395)

St. Andronikos of Moscow (Feast Day - June 13)

Venerable Andronicus (or Andronik) was born in Rostov, and being a disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh (Sept. 25), he received the monastic tonsure from him around 1353. Adorned with every virtue, Saint Andronicus lived at Holy Trinity Monastery for many years.

One day, Metropolitan Alexis of Moscow (Feb. 12) visited the monastery to speak with Saint Sergius about founding a monastery in Moscow in fulfillment of a vow he had made when he was saved from a shipwreck. Saint Alexis wished to establish a cenobitic monastery dedicated to the Icon of the Savior Not-Made-By Hands, and he wanted Saint Andronicus to become the abbot. Saint Sergius agreed to this proposal, and the monastery was completed between 1358-1361.

Saint Andronicus governed the monastery for many years, attracting many monks to that place. Among the notable monks of that monastery was Saint Andrew Rublev (July 4).

Metr. Alexis making St. Andronicus abbot.

Saint Andronicus reposed in the Lord on June 13th 1395 (or 1373 in other sources), and was succeeded as abbot by his disciple Saint Sava of Moscow (June 13). He was canonized at the end of the 15th century.

Venerable Andronicus was buried in the Savior Cathedral of the Andronikov Monastery. In 1812, the French plundered the monastery, the relics remained intact, but the head disappeared. After 1917, the relics also disappeared. As a result of archaeological research in 1993, the relics of Andronicus of Moscow and Sava of Moscow were discovered under the ancient throne of the Savior Cathedral of the Andronikov Monastery.


Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!