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.



August 28, 2020

Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves, Whose Relics Repose in the Far Caves of Venerable Theodosius


On this day, the 28th of August, the Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the Kiev Caves, whose relics repose in the Far Caves of Saint Theodosius. They have their own individual days of commemoration, but today we honor the whole assembly of these venerable saints who were a light upon the earth, guiding us on the path of salvation.

Venerable Theodosius, the Founder (May 3, August 14, September 2)

Venerable Agathon the Wonderworker (February 20)

Archimandrite Acindynus (+ 1235)

Venerable Ammon (October 4)

Bishop Amphilochius of Vladimir, Volhynia (October 10)

Venerable Anatolius the Recluse (July 3)

Venerable Aquila the Deacon (January 4)

Venerable Arseny, Lover of Labor (May 8)

Venerable Benjamin the Recluse (October 13)

Venerable Cassian the Recluse (February 29, May 8)

Venerable Daniel (14th Century)

Hieromonk Dionysius the Recluse (October 3)

Archimandrite Dositheus (+ 1218)

Venerable Eulogius (14th Century)


Hieroschemamonk Euthymius (January 20)

Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch (April 1)

Venerable Gregory the Recluse (January 8, August 8)

Venerable Hilarion (October 21)

Venerable Hypatius the Healer (March 31)

Archimandrite Ignatius (December 20)

Venerable Isidore the Recluse (12th-13th Centuries)

Venerable Joseph the Much-Ailing (April 4)

Venerable Laurence the Recluse (January 20)

Venerable Leontius the Canonarch (April 1, June 18)

Venerable Longinus the Gate-Keeper (October 16)

Hieromartyr Lucian the Priest (October 15)

Venerable Macarius the Deacon (January 19)

Venerable Mardarius the Recluse (December 13)

Venerable Martyrius the Recluse (October 25)

Venerable Martyrius the Deacon (October 25)

Venerable Mercurius the Faster (November 4, 24)

Venerable Moses the Wonderworker (July 26, 28)

Venerable Nestor the Unlearned (October 29)

Venerable Paisius (July 19)

Hieromonk Pambo the Recluse (July 18)

Hieromonk Pankraty the Recluse (February 9) 


Venerable Paphnutius the Recluse (February 15)

Venerable Paul the Obedient (September 10)

Venerable Pimen the Faster (May 8, August 7)

Venerable Pior the Recluse (October 4)

Venerable Rufus the Obedient (April 8)

Venerable Silouan (June 10, July 10)

Venerable Sisoes (July 6)

Venerable Sophronius the Recluse (March 11, May 11)

Venerable Theodore the Silent (February 17)

Venerable Theodosius (Prince Theodore) (August 11)

Archbishop Theophilus of Novgorod (October 26)

Venerable Timothy (+ 1132)

Venerable Titus the Soldier (January 27, February 27)

Venerable Zachariah the Faster (March 24)

Venerable Zeno the Faster (January 30)


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