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 25, 2020

Saint Markellos, Bishop of Soli in Cyprus

St. Markellos of Soli (Feast Day - February 25)

Verses

Longing fervently Markellos became a drink-offering to God,
Dripping warm blood from his neck.

In the Synaxarion of Constantinople he is called Saint Markellos, Bishop of Apamea in Cyprus, and he is said to have reposed in peace. This leaves us with some confusion that requires clarification.

First, there is no Apamea in Cyprus, but it is in Syria. The closest alternative in Cyprus is the ancient town of Aepeia, which later became known as Soli. Therefore he could have been a Bishop of Soli in Cyprus, or like Saint Markellos the Bishop of Apamea commemorated on August 14th, he was Bishop of Apamea in Syria.

Second, though the Synaxarion of Constantinople says he reposed in peace, the iambic verses make it clear that he was beheaded and thus died a martyric death. If he is the same person as Saint Markellos the Bishop of Apamea commemorated on August 14th who died as a martyr, we still have a difference, since the Markellos of August 14th was martyred by being burnt alive.

Étienne de Lusignan in the 16th century does mention a Saint Markellos who was Bishop of Soli in Cyprus without mentioning when he lived but was commemorated on February 25th. There he is said to have died a martyr with no specifics. This was repeated by the Cypriot Chronographer Kyprianos in the 18th century.

From the above we can therefore assume that Saint Markellos was Bishop of Soli in Cyprus who met his end by being beheaded by the sword.

The fresco above comes from the Serbian Church of Saint George in Staro Nagoričane where he is depicted with other Saints commemorated on February 25th.


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