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.



November 8, 2021

"The Waves Were Filled With Angels and the Panagia Appeared" (St. Sophia of Kleisoura)


The following story is told about the journey of the refugees [from Pontus], in 1919, to their new homeland Greece.

The ship of their group was in a great storm and was in danger of sinking many times. They were finally saved.

The captain, making his cross, said:

"You had a righteous person with you and they saved you."

All eyes then fell on Sophia who, isolated in a corner of the ship, did not stop praying throughout the difficult voyage.

This narration also exists in a videotape, where she narrates the event. She says:

"The waves are filled with angels and the Panagia appeared. 'The people will be lost,' she said, 'because all of you are very sinful.'

'My Panagia, let me perish because I am the sinner, let the people be saved.'"

The name of the ship was 'Agios Nikolaos'.

When they finally arrived in Greece, the Panagia introduced herself to her, saying:

"Come to my house."

Then Sophia asked her:

"Who are you and where is your home?"

"I'm in Kleisoura," was the answer.

Source: From the book Σοφία Χοτοκουρίδου, Μια λαϊκή ασκήτρια. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.
 
 
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