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 8, 2019

Saint Naukratios the Studite (+ 847)

St. Naukratios the Studite (Feast Day - April 18 or June 8)

Verses

Naukratios is permitted to pass beyond the earth,
Having the Word as the steersman of the ship of his soul.

Venerable Naukratios lived in the ninth century, and was a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite at the Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople. Like his spiritual father, he fervently upheld the veneration of sacred icons during the time of Iconoclasm, which is why he endured persecution and exile during the reign of Emperor Leo V (813-820). During this time, around 818, he endured flogging and imprisonment.

Naukratios was the recipient of most of Theodore's letters (fifty-four of them). The writings of Theodore the Studite and of Naukratios show what rapid communication the letters between the various Studite centers in exile in Asia Minor had. In the year 826, Theodore dictated his Testament, a form of spiritual guidance for the future abbots of the Stoudios Monastery, to his disciple Naukratios. When Emperor Theophilos (829-842) died, Naukratios returned to Stoudios Monastery in 842 and was elected abbot by the monks there. He reposed in the year 847, and his sacred relic was buried as a Confessor in Stoudios Monastery. Naukratios was succeeded by Nicholas the Studite (abbot, 847–50 and 853–858).

According to the Synaxarion of Constantinople, a Venerable Naukratios is commemorated on June 8th, but no other information is given to positively identify him. For this reason, Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite presumes that we are to commemorate Naukratios the brother of Saint Basil the Great on this day, but in the Synaxarion of Maurakios it says it is Venerable Naukratios the Studite. For this reason, both can be commemorated on this day, although other sources list Naukratios the Studite for commemoration of April 18th.


Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!