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.



March 31, 2020

Saint Hypatius the Healer of the Kiev Caves

St. Hypatius the Healer of the Caves (Feast Day - March 31)

In 1240 the Golden Horde of Batu Khan invaded Russia, and brought the Kiev Caves Lavra to ruin, leaving it desolate for many years, though some monks still lived there. It was at this time that Venerable Hypatius the Healer of the Kiev Caves Lavra became a vessel of divine grace through his rigorous fasting of only eating bread and water and his prayerful vigilance. By night he stood at prayer, slept very little, and ate only bread and water. He devoted himself entirely to the service of the sick, having received from God the gift of healing. Those sick with various illnesses often hastened to his prayerful intercession. His incorrupt relics rest in the Theodosius (Far) Caves. Now, they who resort with faith in their illnesses to his relics receive healing.



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