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.



September 4, 2019

Police Find No Criminal Offense in the Case of the Metropolitan of Morphou


Cypriot police have not found any criminal offense committed by Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou in relation to his statements on homosexuality and therefore it is doubtful whether he will be prosecuted.

With this suggestion, the Legal Service now has the case file, which is being considered by the Attorney General.

According to a report from philenews.com, the Metropolitan was the last to be called and he gave a written statement about what he had said in his speech that caused a stir.

The case was then completed, which was forwarded to the Legal Service last week with the finding that no criminal offenses were identified.

In the police statement, it is reported that the statement of the Metropolitan was not made during his speech, but was the direct result of answering a question after the speech, and that what he stated was nothing more than what he was informed was the position of Saint Porphyrios.

The Attorney General will study all the files of the case and come to a conclusion as to how to proceed, whether the case will be dropped or if he decides to disagree with the investigators.

The investigation was the result of a complaint to the Attorney General by Costas Gavrielides, advisor to the President of the Cypriot Republic for Multiculturalism, Acceptance and Respect for Diversity, who sought to investigate whether the Metropolitan supported, with constructed arguments, the promotion of intolerance towards the LGBT community, while at the same time insulting parents of homosexuals and targeting mainly their mothers.

See also:

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou Issues Statement Pending Police Investigation

On the Controversial Statements of Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou



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