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.



December 10, 2025

Prologue in Sermons: December 10


There is Nothing Worse Than When a Monk Becomes Infected With Spiritual Pride and Decides to Live According to his Own Will.

December 10
 
(Kosmas the Presbyter on Monks Who Do Not Wish To Be With the Brethren and Subject Themselves to Monastic Labor.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Our word shall be to you, brother monks, and here is what we shall tell you. It seems to us that for a monk there is nothing more detrimental than when he is infected with spiritual pride, departs from obedience to his abbot, and resolves to live according to his own will. What usually follows from this? Most often, it is that such a monk neglects his direct monastic duties, subjects his mind to his evil will, becomes vain and slothful, frequently engages in acts either dishonorable or foolish, and ultimately falls entirely under the dominion of the devil. Is this truly the case? Indeed, brethren, it is, and there ought to be no doubt about it. Listen now to a teaching of a Teacher of the Church, and you will recognize the truth of our words.

"Some of the monks," says Kosmas the Presbyter (+ 10th cent.), "retreat into seclusion to live according to their own desires, and there, receiving alms from those who come to them, they delight in their indulgent idleness and live like pigs in a sty. They neither heed nor obey the monastic rules, refuse to work, do not submit to the abbot, and cannot spend a single day in peace with their brethren. They seek only human glory, establish their own rules for women, hear their confessions, and grant them absolution for sins without any authority to do so. Is this not abhorrent to God and a loathsome arrogance? Considering themselves great and holy, they judge all others, build houses for others, while entirely neglecting their own, that is, their own salvation. They pursue unjust gain and commit many other follies. They consume bread that is not theirs and spend their days in sin."

Is it not true, brethren, that a monk who has departed from obedience to his abbot, infected with pride and beginning to live according to his own will, truly distances himself from God, falls under the power of the devil, and begins to commit unseemly deeds? Indeed, as you observe from the words of the Church, this is as clear as the day. Here we see the sin of sloth, the loss of humility, the deception of the simple-minded, avarice, hypocrisy, and everything else imaginable, but not good — only evil. Where, then, are the monastic vows? Where is love for God? Where is faith? Where are labor and prayer? Where is the fear of God? All is forgotten and trampled upon! It is no wonder that their life is likened to the life of swine, as it truly is. Therefore, fear the Dread Judgment of God and flee from such a life as from a destructive plague. Remember that "no one who lays his hand on the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). And "no one can serve two masters: for he will either love one and hate the other, or he will be devoted to one and neglect the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 

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