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 28, 2022

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

 
 By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin

"It is easier for us to be content with silence out of fear, which is harmless. However, to weave praises and hymns of desire for You, Virgin, harmoniously matched is difficult and dangerous. But, Mother, as much as our intention is, so give us your own strength." (Christmas Canon of St. John of Damascus, Ode 9)

Songs in honor of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ are ready: the holy fathers wrote them, put them together; the Holy Church saved them - for us. But are we, the listeners, ready to sing these divine songs? Are our lips pure? Is the tongue pure? Is the heart pure? Is the soul pure? For six weeks the Holy Church prepared us for the singing of songs in honor of the Nativity of Christ; but even during these six weeks, have we kept our mouths from judging our neighbors? Were our hearts kept from sinful desires? Have our tongues been curbed from obscene words? Were our souls protected from unclean thoughts? At least during these six weeks of holy fasting, did they resort to fasting and prayer, to tears and repentance in order to purify themselves from all kinds of defilements of the flesh and spirit?

Yes, the festival has come, and songs in honor of it are ready; but we, it seems, are not yet ready to celebrate the holy feast and are not ready to sing divine songs. When will we get ready? Oh, how could we not go to the other world so unprepared! There is blessedness in that everyone is constantly singing and glorifying the Lord, but we will not be able to sing, or we will be bored from singing, as we sometimes get bored here.

The feast of the Nativity of Christ has come, and the songs in honor of it are ready, but we ... What should we do? Let us celebrate, let us also unprepared sing songs in honor of the Nativity of Christ, prepared for us by others: these divine songs are so holy that even through their singing our soul can be illuminated; these divine songs are so pure that by listening to them our heart can be cleansed; they are so fragrant with grace that even through our attention to them we can be filled with grace.

So, listeners, sing to our God, sing - sing to our King, sing! But you, Virgin Mother of God, if there is any will, give us the strength to sing divine songs in honor of the Christ who was born from You. Amen.
 
 
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