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.



October 22, 2024

Homily One on the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (St. John of Kronstadt)


Homily One on the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

By St. John of Kronstadt

"O fervent Intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High,  
pray for all to Your Son, Christ our God, 
and grant salvation to all who flee to Your sovereign protection." 
(Troparion to the Kazan Mother of God)

Do you all, beloved brethren, always pray earnestly to the Mother of God? If any of you do not pray to Her, or do not pray with all your heart, I beseech you to begin to pray to Her with all zeal from this very day, for our Lady is a quick Intercessor for all Christians who resort with faith to Her protection and intercession - She does not shun anyone, She does not neglect anyone.

In order to be worthy of Her intercession, you only need firm faith in the power of Her prayer and humble sincere prayer. Whatever misfortune has befallen you, or sorrow of the soul: hurry quickly to pray to our Lady, and do not seek consolation for yourself in any earthly consolations - in theaters, circuses, evenings out - all the more do not resort, to ease your grief, to forget the misfortune with wine, as many do. Theaters, circuses, entertainment with wine or something else - new misfortunes, only not noticeable at first, because they are seductive.

Sins or passions torment you, or bad habits possess you - resort to the most merciful Mother of all, the Queen and the Mother of God. Pray to Her thus: 

O all-bountiful Lady Theotokos, behold, such and such passions and sins possess me. You can do everything, Your prayer is omnipotent with Your Son and God, therefore cover and intercede for me from myself, from my sinful passions and habits. With all my heart I wish for myself correction and salvation, but without higher help, without intercession from above I can do nothing: I take a step forward, and then retreat as much as ten steps back, and so the power of the enemy pushes me away from the Lord. Accursed am I, poor and destitute and blind and naked spiritually. Help me, wretched and poor and blind, I pray to You with all my soul. I believe that You hear every sigh of my heart, every word that comes from my heart, and that You mercifully intercede for all who earnestly seek Your help and who have not been completely deceived by sinful flattery. Intercede, save and have mercy on me, a sinner.

Thus let us pray to the most merciful Queen and Mother of God – and we will certainly be worthy of Her protection and intercession. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 

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