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.



December 29, 2022

Fifth Homily for the Day of the Nativity of Christ (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin)


 By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin

"Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more exalted in glory than the heavenly hosts." (Ninth Ode of Christmas Matins)

To Jesus Christ now, on the day of His Nativity, everyone gives some kind of honor, everyone somehow rejoices in Him.

Some with the shepherds worship Him, others with the angels glorify Him, those with His Most Pure Mother in silence listen to the singing to His glory, some with the Magi bring some gifts to Him.

And you, pious listener, how do you rejoice in the One who is now born, what honor do you give to Him, your Savior God?

Magnify with me His Most Pure Mother, the Virgin Mary. Magnifying the Mother, we will magnify the Son; giving honor to Her, we will honor Him who was born of Her.

After the songs of the Lord, there is no more glorious song for God and for our spirit a sweeter song than the one we sing in honor of the Mother of God.

So, let us sing: "Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more exalted in glory than the heavenly hosts." Amen.
 
 
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