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.



July 7, 2023

Saint Kyriaki and the Widow Who Lost Everything


 By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

"Tell me, sister Marina, something from the people. You have traveled a lot, learned many destinies of people and understood the paths of Providence."

Sister Marina thought about it, and after a long hesitation and speaking as if she knew nothing, that she was unworthy, and so on, she narrated the following:

"In the village of Izdeglavlje, I spent the night with a widow. That widow told me how once a pestilence struck her house and in four days she carried seven dead people out of the house. Among the dead was her husband, several sons and other family members. It was with great difficulty that she could prepare everything for the funeral as it should be. When all seven were buried, she was left with three small children. Then her neighbors and relatives come and advise her to move out of that house and into a hut, because there is a curse on the house. But what hut was there to move in to? 
 
In great confusion as to what to do, one night when the children were asleep, she prayed to God for a long time for advice, then she went to bed and slept. Saint Kyriaki appeared to her in a dream, and she caressed her and told her that she would protect her and that everything would go well for her right away. Thus informed and encouraged, she remained at home. And indeed, everything went well and progressed that year. She took in 50 napoleons for grain. With that money, she bought a field from the Turks. Her sheep multiplied. The fruits bore fruit. The orchard bore a great harvest. This was repeated in the following years. She raised the children and guided them on the right path. She married off the two boys and her daughter. One of her sons is now a leader in the village. A wonderful example of God's care for those who fear Him!"

- From the book Emmanuel. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 
 

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