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.



May 24, 2023

Papa-Fotis the Fool for Christ Sends Paschal Greetings from Paradise


Christ is Risen from Paradise!
 
Father N. is a simple Levite and above all one who is in dire straights, with many personal problems, but he was a dear friend of Papa-Fotis Lavriotis the Fool for Christ. Many times when he saw him, Papa-Fotis teased him, because Father N. is a very simple soul, pure, childlike I would say... and Papa-Fotis found comfort in such souls!

This year (2020) he received an order from the Bishop to officiate on Bright Tuesday in a church in another village, as he did. On his way home, he had to pass by the cemetery where Papa-Fotis is buried, and he was thinking about it.

When he got very close, he saw Papa-Fotis standing in front of him, dressed in a white priestly garb, and very radiantly smiling and greeting him!

Father N., as he is a simple and sincere soul, got scared, as he shyly admits, and stepped on the gas of the car!

Moving further down, to a small church where Papa-Fotis used to go and officiate, he saw Papa-Fotis alive again in that bright priestly garb greeting him joyful and bright! Father N. believed it was his imagination, and for fear of being teased, he didn't say anything.

At night as he fell asleep, he saw Papa-Fotis again in his sleep, telling him teasingly:

"What were you afraid of, blessed one? It was me and I wanted to wish you Christ is Risen and greet you! Why didn't you stop?"

This was the happiest… the most grace-filled… the most resurrectional Christ is Risen!

"Think about it," said Father N. "I was told that Christ is Risen from Paradise!" 
 
He shed tears of Resurrection Joy and loving nostalgia for his beloved Papa-Fotis, who always supported him in his difficulties.

May we have the blessing of the holy papouli!

Christ is Risen! ... from Paradise!

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos. 


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