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 4, 2025

Prologue in Sermons: December 4

 
How To Deal With Strangers Living In Our Families and Behaving Disapprovingly

December 4

(How Venerable Lot Dealt With An Elderly Guest)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It happens that some Christians, out of kindness, sometimes give shelter to their poor relatives or other helpless wanderers. This is a good deed, but here's the problem: often, instead of repaying their benefactors with all possible meekness and love, these people cause them grief with their behavior. What should we do with them?

A certain ailing elder came to the Venerable Lot in the desert and begged him to let him stay with him. Lot agreed, received the elder, and gave him rest. And since many people came to Lot for guidance, he, wishing to relieve himself somewhat, began sending some to his guest. The latter, instead of converting those sent to him to the true path, only led them astray, instilling in them some of Origen's errors. Lot learned of this and was troubled. "What," he thought, "will the fathers say about us now? They will think that we are the same as this stranger. And I am afraid to expel him, lest I anger God." So Lot went to Abba Arsenios for advice. After hearing about the elder, Arsenios said, "Don't drive him away, but tell him this: If you wish to enjoy my hospitality, enjoy it as much as you wish, but do not lead others into sin. Then your guest will either abandon his errors or leave you; and in either case, you will be right." Lot followed Arsenios's advice and conveyed his words to the elder. The elder, having heard them, refused to abandon his errors and immediately decided to leave Lot. The Abba dismissed the guest with love.

Therefore, if any of you were in Lot's place, you too could perhaps act as he did. If your restless guests accept your admonitions, well and good; if not, they will most likely abandon you. Your conscience will remain clear. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 

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