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 5, 2019

The Ancient Christian Basilica of Christ of Jerusalem in Kalymnos


Christ of Jerusalem Basilica is a three-aisled ancient Christian church located in Limniotissa, 200 meters west of Chora on the island of Kalymnos, next to the asphalt road that leads from Chora to Panormo.

According to epigraphical testimonies, the site was the political and religious center of ancient Kalymnos. The prevalence of Christianity following the persecution of the Roman emperors brought about the closure and destruction of the pagan sanctuaries. The basilica was built in the 5th century and was probably destroyed in the middle of the 6th century from an earthquake and was later repaired, while another basilica, Hagia Sophia, was built forty meters southeast. In the 7th century it was abandoned due to Arab raids.

Only the eastern part of the basilica has been excavated since 1937. The sanctuary has been maintained in fairly good condition. It has been determined that the building material for the basilica came from a nearby temple dedicated to Delian Apollo. The central aisle is paved with large marble slabs, while the south is covered with a mosaic composition that includes animals in a natural environment.

The church is still in operation today for its feast day on the Apodosis of Pascha, which is 39 days after Easter, as well as the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ on August 6th.











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