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.



November 17, 2025

Prologue in Sermons: November 17


One Can Attain Salvation In Any Rank

November 17

(A Sermon on Eucharistos the Shepherd)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

I have often said that salvation can be found not in a monastery, but in the world as well, and, indeed, in any rank, and to convince you of this, I have repeatedly cited examples of saints who, like you, were of humble rank and unlearned, and entered the Kingdom of Heaven. Now I intend to prove the same point again, and I believe the example I will give will be instructive for you.

Two elders who lived in the desert prayed to God to reveal to them how pleasing their deeds were to Him. Their prayer was heard, and a voice from above informed them that in holiness of life they had not yet equaled a commoner, Eucharistos, and his wife Maria, who lived in a village in Egypt. The monks immediately went in search of these people and soon found their home. Eucharistos was absent, so the elders waited for him, and they did wait. In the evening he returned home with his flock of sheep, and upon seeing the elders, he washed their feet, prepared food, and urged them to partake of it. “No,” said the monks, “first tell us your good deeds, and only then feed us. Until you do, we shall taste nothing from you!” The humble Eucharistos replied, “What good deeds could I have? I am a shepherd, and this is my wife.” The elders insisted on their point; he remained silent. Seeing his unwavering stance, they finally said to him, "Answer us, for God Himself has sent us to you!" Upon hearing this, Eucharistos was afraid and replied, "The sheep you saw are an inheritance from my parents; all that I receive from them, I divide into three parts: one I give to the poor, another I use to host strangers, and the third for my own needs. Since Maria became my wife, we both have maintained strict chastity, dressing in hairshirts at night – and until now, no one has known of this." Upon hearing this, the elders marveled, glorified God, and returned to the desert.

Thus, a simple shepherd became more exalted in the eyes of God than the elders who had abandoned the world for God! How did Eucharistos attain such a high degree of spiritual perfection? Through humility, love for the poor, hospitality, and chastity. Does anything prevent you from imitating him in these virtues? Of course not. And if not, then imitate him; be humble, merciful to your neighbors, and live chastely, remembering that marriage was instituted for the blessed birth and upbringing of children, not for lust. By leading such a life, you can be saved even in this world. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 

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