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.



January 3, 2025

Saint Ephraim of Nea Makri and the Dying Woman

Abbess Makaria holding an Icon of St. Ephraim

According to the story told by Abbess Makaria, there was a lady, Mrs. V., who offered to do free work at the Monastery, sewing clothes for the children of the institution. One day when Mrs. V. was kneeling and praying to Saint Ephraim, she felt his touch and was filled with fragrance as he passed by her. For quite some time they lost her. She did not come to the Monastery until an acquaintance informed them that she was seriously ill. Abbess Makaria immediately left to visit her, taking with her the Relics of the Saint. The image of the dying woman that she saw left her speechless. She immediately began to pray to the Saint. The dying woman opened her eyes, saw her and said:

"Mother, you have come to me!"

Abbess Makaria placed the Holy Relics on her and continued praying. The lady suddenly came to life, the color returned to her face and asked for food. Talking with the abbess afterwards, she asked her to also bless a grandmother next to her who was blind. With the grace of the Relics of the Saint, the grandmother also had her sight restored.

When the lady became completely well, she went to her village. There she had a seaside estate with a small house. Her place was dry and arid. So she fervently begged God and the Saint to help her find water. And so it happened. At the Saint's suggestion, the workers dug a well that immediately filled with water. 
 
After a while, the lady's daughter saw the Saint standing with two Angels on the seashore. The daughter was troubled, but the Saint turned and said to her:

"Do not be afraid, Annoula, I am your Saint Ephraim. I have come, my child, to take your mother with me, according to the will of God. Do not be sad, because I will take her to a wonderful place, like the Garden of Eden. I will always be by your side to watch over you."

The Saint turned to leave and the girl said to him:

"Sit with me a little longer, my Saint".

"I cannot stay any longer, my child, because the sick are asking for me".

The Angels nodded in agreement with him and they all disappeared into the sea together.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 

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