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, 2025

Eldress Galaktia Remembers the Miraculous Appearance of Saint George During the German Occupation

 

Below Eldress Galaktia recalls the miraculous appearance of Saint George the Great Martyr to her during the German Occupation:

"During the German occupation, my father was a hostage of the Germans along with other select residents of Pompia.* They were not supposed to go far from the village and every Saturday at noon they would have to present themselves at the commandant’s office. It was where the police were, next to the old church of Saint George. That is where the large church is built today. When they were late returning, my mother would send me anxiously: 'Go, my child, and see from outside why they are late.' I would go and kneel at Saint George’s. With tears I would beg him for my beloved father and all the others. Once, a discreet touch on the head startled me. I raised my eyes and saw with astonishment a young soldier in ancient uniform. He smiled at me and said: 'Do not be afraid. Pompia and your father are in my hands.' Then he disappeared. It was Saint George! I never spoke of it. I speak of it now for his glory.”

Church of Saint George in Pompia

Icon of Saint George in his church in Pompia

* A semi-mountainous village in the Heraklion Regional Unit of Crete.

Source: From the book Γερόντισσα Γαλακτία – Ένα αστέρι πολύφωτο μέσα στο νεοεποχίτικο σκοτάδι, Agathos Logos publications, Athens 2021, pp. 20-21. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.
 

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