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 17, 2023

Encyclical on the Canonization of Saint Gervasios of Patras


From Patras on the 16th of November 2023
 
Protocol Number 329
 
 Encyclical 454th

CHRYSOSTOMOS

BY THE MERCY OF GOD METROPOLITAN OF THE MOST HOLY

AND APOSTOLIC METROPOLIS OF PATRAS

To

the Christeponymous Body

of the Holy Metropolis of Patras

My blessed children,

Today is a day of celebration and gladness for the city of Patras.

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, following the august announcement by His All-Holiness and Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, ranked among the Saints of our Orthodox Church, the sanctified spiritual father and Preacher of Patras, the fervent teacher of the divine Dogmas of the Church, the God-loving, Saint-loving and People-loving, the Priest of the poor and refugees, the nurterer of widows and orphans, the founder of the first Catechetical School in Greece, the student of Saint Nektarios, the grandfather of the people of Patras, Venerable Gervasios Paraskevopoulos, the renowned and sign-bearing Priest, the beloved of the people, the zealous and ardent worker of the Lord's Vineyard.
 
We glorify and praise with hymns the all-holy name of our God worshiped in Trinity, who lavishly gifted and grace these People, the descendants of the Proto-apostle, the fisher of souls, Andrew, who like Jesus Christ, stretched out his arms on the Cross.

Today, the heavens above shine with spiritual lightning.

Today the sweet Mother of our Lord, the Theotokos, the mother and comforter of the orphaned little George and later Father Gervasios, celebrates with the angels.

Today, the Hierarch of Pentapolis, Saint Nektarios the miracle-gusher, is rejoicing in heaven, for his holy Disciple.

Today the renowned and great Hierarch of Patras Hierotheos Metropoulos, the protector of Venerable Gervasios, enjoys the spiritual inheritance of his son in heaven.

Today, the blessed Hierarch of Hydra, Hierotheos of eternal memory, the excellent disciple and devoted spiritual child of Fr. Gervasios, with sweet-sounds and modesty, glorifies the Lord with gladness and spiritually cries out: "Who is so great a God as our God, You alone are the God who works wonders."

Today the revered Priests, those in Patras who share in the calling, the association, with hands and hearts lifted to heaven, bless the blessed and tireless Priest with songs and hymns and spiritual odes.

Today, the village which gave birth to him, Granitsa, or Nymphasia of Gortynia and all of saint-producing Arcadia spiritually celebrates for her holy son.

Today also my Elder of eternal memory, the sweet High Priest, the man of love, the late Metropolitan of Mantineia and Kynouria, Mr. Theokletos, together with the Church in heaven, crowns Gervasios with songs, the Gervasios who gave him the testimony to enter the ranks of the Sacred Clergy.

Today, the High Priest of Patras, by the mercy of God, that is, I, the least of all, with what power I have in my heart, exclaim in glory to God: "Great are You, O Lord, and wonderful are your works, and no word can suffice to hymn your wonders," and kneeling down from the depths of my soul, most-reverently and in tears I cry out: "Through the intercessions of Venerable Gervasios, O Lord, have mercy on the city of Patras and its chosen people."

Lord, through the intercessions of Venerable Gervasios, pacify your war-torn world.

Lord, through the intercessions of Venerable Gervasios, keep His All-Holiness and Ecumenical Patriarch and bestow upon him the most abundant things, consecrated, full of heavenly graces, to the glory of Your All-Holy Name and the good repute of your Holy Orthodox Church.

Beloved children in the Lord, today on this clear day, we will hasten all of us Clergy and People, to the land of the Saint, where the tomb of Saint Gervasios is located, where is the Temople of Saint Paraskevi in Sychaina, within which are kept the sacred and myrrh-scented Relics of Venerable Gervasios.

Today at 5 p.m. in the evening, the People of Patras, with much reverence will venerate the Saint, and those who glorify him will be exalted by the Lord.

Let us all hasten there, where the Saint is, where his Relics are, giving thanks to God, blessing the Most Holy Theotokos and Venerable Gervasios, and venerate with much reverence.

Brothers and sisters and children in the Lord.

Glory be to God for all things.

With paternal blessings and love in the Lord,

THE METROPOLITAN

CHRYSOSTOMOS OF PATRAS

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 
 

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