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.



October 21, 2020

Saint Hilarion, Schemamonk of the Kiev Caves (+ late 11th cent.)

 
St. Hilarion of the Kiev Caves (Feast Day - October 21)

Venerable Hilarion was a strict ascetic and a disciple and co-ascetic with Saint Theodosius (May 3) in the Far Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra. Hilarion is said to have kept such abstinence that he ate very little once a week, and as a cohabitant of Saint Theodosius he imitated him by praying day and night with prostrations and tears, pleasing God. 
 
His contemporaries knew him as a chronicler, who toiled over the copying of books in the cell of Saint Theodosius day and night. During this time his teacher would chant Psalms softly and spin wool or do something else. We are informed of his great temptations from demons, and how Venerable Theodosius often exhorted him to endure these temptations and with his prayers delivered him from them. 
 
Saint Hilarion reposed in the late eleventh century and his incorrupt relics rest in the Far Caves. He is sometimes confused with Metropolitan Hilarion of Kiev.
 

 
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