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 18, 2020

Synaxarion of the Holy Martyrs Leo and Paregorios

Sts. Leo and Paregorios (Feast Day - February 18)

Verses

To Paregorios.
The bound flesh of Paregorios was assaulted,
Having consolation in great crowns.

To Leo.
Wounded Leo was strengthened by God above,
Forcibly dragged he was steadfast as a lion.

Of these two martyrs, blessed Paregorios was punished with many types of tortures, and received the unfading crown of martyrdom being perfected in Christ. The renowned Leo remained a monk, and was unable to endure being separated from the Martyr Paregorios, and because he did not attain the crown of martyrdom, he bitterly wept and lamented. He therefore left the place where the relic of Saint Paregorios was buried, weeping, and his heart became inflamed with a longing for martyrdom.

Departing from there he went to a place where there was a festival held by idol worshipers. Seeing there lamps and candles, from which much light emanated, he took them into his hands and crushed them, then throwing them to the ground he trampled on them. He was therefore arrested, and stood before the ruler of the city, and having been questioned, he proclaimed Christ as the true God.


For this reason he was harshly lacerated with ox-hides, and the athlete of Christ endured this with such joy, that it was as if someone else was suffering and not himself. After this he was beaten, then violently dragged over a precipitous and impassable dry river. Then, having received permission, he prayed, and with this he delivered his soul into the hands of God, receiving the crown of martyrdom he longed for. When the executioners cast his relic in a ravine, they departed.



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