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.



April 30, 2021

Relics of the Cross of the Good Thief


The Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome claims to have a portion of the cross on which the Good Thief was crucified next to Jesus; it is located in its La Cappella delle Reliquie. 
 
This cross was found by Saint Helen in the fourth century when she discovered the True Cross of the Lord. According to tradition, Saint Helen herself brought this relic to Rome which she kept in her palace.

Another tradition says that the other half of the cross of the Good Thief was kept at Stavrovouni Monastery in Cyprus, but in 1426 it was stolen by the Mamluks, and though it was rediscovered some years later, it was lost again and today the location is not known.
 
 
 

 
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