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.



April 23, 2023

The 172 Anonymous Venerable New Martyrs of Panagia Eikosifoinissa Monastery (+ 1507)


In 1472 the retired Saint Dionysios I, Patriarch of Constantinople, made his residence in the Sacred Monastery of Panagia Eikosifoinissa in Serres. During his long stay at the Monastery, he erected many new buildings and repaired old ones. In his time the Monastery acquired great prosperity and glory. Thus, according to information from a chronicle of the 16th century, in the year 1507, 24 hieromonks, 3 hierodeacons and 145 monks lived in the Monastery, i.e. a total of 172. They would go through Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, strengthened Christians in their faith and prevented conversions to Islam. This action of theirs caused the wrath of the Turks, who on April 24, 1507 slaughtered all 172 monks. They did not destroy the temple and the buildings, but the Monastery remained deserted and uninhabited for 13 years.

After the tragic event of the massacre, the Ecumenical Patriarchate succeeded in 1510 (or according to others in 1520) to receive permission from the Sultan for the reorganization of the Monastery. Thus, with the help of ten monks from Vatopaidi Monastery of Mount Athos, within ten years, 50 monks, deacons and hieromonks, who also had the governance of the Monastery, came to be monks at the Monastery.

In the years that followed, the Monastery had become the spiritual and national center of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The commemoration of this slaughter of the 172 Venerable Fathers takes place annually on Thomas Sunday.
 
 
 
 
 

 

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