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.



May 16, 2020

Holy Martyrs Isaac, Symeon and Bachthisoes of Persia

Sts. Isaac, Symeon and Bachthisoes (Feast Day - May 16)

Verses

In the fire expired three who were like-minded,
Isaac, Symeon and Bachthisoes.

The Holy Martyrs Isaac, Symeon and Bachthisoes were from Persia and lived during the reign of King Shapur II (309-379). Fire-worshiping Persians arrested them for being Christians and brought them before King Shapur, who urged them to deny their faith in Christ and offer up a sacrifice to the sun and to fire. They replied: "We will not deny Christ, who is the true God, and the Creator of all that has been made. We turn away from the sun and fire, for they are among the things He has made."

This response enraged the tyrant, for which they were harshly beaten while bound by their hands and feet, then cast into prison for seven days without food. They were then removed from prison and endured various tortures. Finally their honorable and sacred heads were cut off,* and in this way they received from the Lord the unfading crown of martyrdom.

Notes:

* According to the Menologion of Basil II, they were beheaded, while the Synaxarion of Constantinople says they were burned alive.



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