ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: The Perfect Love of Saint Anthony the Great

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.

January 17, 2020

The Perfect Love of Saint Anthony the Great

By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

A certain discerning elder asked God to see the reposed Venerable Fathers. And he saw them, except Abba Anthony. He therefore said to the Angel who showed him the Fathers: "Where is Abba Anthony?" The Angel said to him, that Anthony can be found in the place where God is. "Why was Anthony made worthy of such glory above the other Fathers?" "Because he loved God more than them."

Venerable Ammoun of Nitria approached Abba Anthony and said to him: "I labor more in asceticism in proportion to you, therefore how is your name magnified among the people more than mine?" Anthony replied: "Because I love God more in proportion to you." Thus the renowned one was in the habit of saying: "I do not fear God, but I love Him. Perfect love casts out fear."

And Abba Sisoes, who dwelled on the mountain of Anthony the Great, replied to the brother who asked: "Father, have you not attained the measure of Anthony?" with the following: "If I had one of the thoughts of Anthony, I would become entirely as fire."

This is how much Anthony exceeded the other ascetics.