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.



June 14, 2022

Elder Bessarion of Agathonos Has Been Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate


Today, June 14, 2022, the Ecumenical Patriarchate proceeded with the canonization of the beloved Elder Bessarion of Agathonos, who reposed on January 22, 1991.

Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida offered the following urgent local announcement upon the numbering of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Bessarion of Agathonos, who is also known as the Merciful and as the Spiritual Father, among the Saints of the Orthodox Church.

Urgent Message from the Metropolitan of Fthiotida Symeon to the Fullness of the Local Church

My dear fathers and my dear brethren:

Having just returned from Lemnos and being in Athens for the nameday of our Revered Primate, His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Hieronymos, I just received, by phone, the message of joy and good news that we all desire!

The very same Spiritual Father of the Orthodox Nation, our All Holy Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, overseeing the regular session of the Holy and Sacred Patriarchal Synod, the Angel of our Orthodox Church, officially announced to my unworthiness the Great Message of the Synodal Decision of the inscription into the Hagiology of the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Venerable and God-bearing Father Bessarion of Agathonos, the Merciful and Spiritual Father, a clergyman of our Metropolis and brother of the Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Panagia Agathonos.

At this time, the semantra and the bells of our Holy Monasteries and Holy Temples are ringing joyfully throughout our Metropolis!

But above all, the bells of all our hearts ring joyfully and tears of gratitude and praise run down our eyes.

I invite you all to ascend to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Agathonos, to hasten and kneel reverently in front of the incorruptible relic of our Venerable Father Bessarion and at 3:30 p.m. to chant a Festive Doxology of thanksgiving and gratitude.

At 3:30 p.m. I am waiting for you all at the Holy Monastery of Agathonos!

Through the intercessions of our Venerable Father Bessarion

Symeon of Fthiotida
 
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