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.



February 20, 2020

An Update on Vasiliki Plexida, Who Miraculously Survived a Helicopter Crash in 2017


I have received a few requests for an update on Sergeant Vasiliki Plexida, who miraculously survived a helicopter crash in 2017, so I thought I would make the update public.

First, on the two year anniversary she returned to the scene of the crash with others to set up a memorial for both her miraculous deliverance and for the memory of her fellow fallen soldiers. She made the following post on Facebook on April 18, 2019 (translation mine) and posted pictures which are below:

"On the occasion of the two years that are completed tomorrow, April 19th, on April 13th there took place at Sarantaporo Elassona a doxology to our Panagia Akrōtērianē Serphiōtissa Therapeutria for my miraculous rescue, as well as a memorial prayer for our Fallen Heroes, Lieutenant General John Tsanidakis, Lieutenant General Thomas Adamos, Lieutenant General Demosthenes Goulas and Lieutenant General Constantine Hatzis. I pray our Panagia has under her protection our Greece and our Orthodoxy which have been cast down mercilessly!"


The second update comes to us from another Facebook post just a few days ago, on February 14, 2020 (translation mine), accompanied by photos which are at the top of this page:

"Yesterday on February 13th, we celebrated our Panagia Akrōtērianē Serphiōtissa Therapeutria in Serifos! Many people came who honored her, both at the Festal Vespers, as well as yesterday which was the day of her feast! I personally am grateful to her for my rescue from the crash of the helicopter at Sarantaporo Elassona on April 19, 2017 and I am grateful to her for finding me worthy to return for another year to thank her! I pray in these difficult times that all of us are experiencing, that she have us all under her protection and especially our country and our Orthodoxy!!!"

She also made the following testimony detailing what happened to her that day:



For those who don't recall the story, which I previously posted on, please read the three links below:

How a Recent Helicopter Crash Survivor in Greece Miraculously Survived

"This Is How the Virgin Mary Saved Me": The Extraordinary Testimony of Helicopter Crash Survivor Sergeant Vasiliki Plexida

Vasiliki Plexida Speaks of the Miracle of the Virgin Mary Towards Her


UPDATE: On April 19, 2020, which was Easter, she wrote the following message to mark exactly three years since the helicopter accident and the miracle, along with the photos above at the shrine she st up at the site of the accident in honor of her fellow-passengers and to commemorate the miracle:

"Χριστός Ανέστη!!! Καλό και ευλογημένο Πάσχα σε όλους!!! Είθε ο Αναστάς Ιησούς Χριστός μας, να ελευθερώσει την Πατρίδα μας και την Ορθοδοξία μας από ορατούς και αόρατους (Κορονοϊούς) εχθρούς.Σήμερα για μένα είναι διπλή γιορτή, επέτειος σημαντική 19/4/2017-19/4/2020, τρία χρόνια σταθμός της ζωής μου. Σαν σήμερα η Παναγία μας η Ακρωτηριανή Σερφιώτισα Θεραπεύτρια,εκ του θανάτου με υφάρπαξε και μου δώρισε στην ανάξια δούλη της, την λύτρωση της ζωής. Θαυμαστό κ πολλαπλό,το μέγιστο Θαύμα της διάσωσης μου στο ελικόπτερο από την Κυρία Θεοτόκο, συναισθήματα ευγνωμοσύνης πλημμυρίζουν την ψυχή μου. Σήμερα ξαναβιώνω την κάθε στιγμή του τραγικού συμβάντος, τόσο έντονα λεπτό το λεπτό.Υπήρξαν αυτόπτες μάρτυρες της διάσωσης μου, που είδαν αυτή την συγκλονιστική σκηνή!!! Παναγιά μου σε ευχαριστώ!!! Σε ευχαριστώ από τα βάθη της ψυχής μου!!! Σαν σήμερα Παναγιά μου, μετέφερες στην ματωμένη αγκαλιά σου τις ψυχές των ηρώων συναδέλφων μου,του Αντγου Δημοσθένους Γούλα, του Αντγου Θωμά Τζανιδάκη,του Αντγου Θωμά Αδάμου και του Αντγου Κωνσταντίνου Χατζή. Φύλαγε τους Παναγιά μου πάντα υπό την σκέπην σου και στήριζε ως Μάνα τις αξιοθαύμαστες οικογένειές τους στον τόσο δύσκολο και επίπονο αγώνα τους. Χριστός Ανέστη, Χρόνια πολλά εύχομαι κ πάλι από καρδιάς ο Χριστός μας, να διασκορπίσει κάθε αρνητική δύναμη από την Ελλάδα μας και από την Ορθοδοξία μας!!! Η Υπέρμαχος Στρατηγός μας, Κυρία Θεοτόκος Ακρωτηριανή Σερφιώτισα Θεραπεύτρια να εκπληρώσει όλες τις αιτήσεις μας δια την Σωτηρία της ψυχής μας και της Πατρίδας μας!!! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!!!"



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