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 2, 2021

Church of Saints Cyprian and Justina in Meniko, Cyprus


Not far from Nicosia, in the village of Meniko, is the Church of Saints Cyprian and Justinia. This church is built over the remains of a smaller church to contain the relics of the Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Martyr Justina, which were translated here in 1298 from Syria.

The current church was built in the 14th-15th century by the Franks to commemorate the healing of the king of the Franks from a fever. The king recovered from his illness by bowing to the Saints and drinking holy water from the spring. It was at the end of the 12th century when the Franks came to Cyprus.

It is a two-aisled basilica with cross vaults and an impressive bell tower.

To this day, in the northern altar there is a miraculous spring which goes out into the courtyard of the church, where you can drink or take holy water.

If you need to remove the harm done to you by the servants of evil spirits, such as the evil eye or magical spells, then you can request a special prayer service here before the relics of the Saints.
 






 

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