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.



August 10, 2011

The Chapel of Panagia Makrini in Samos


The Chapel of Panagia Makrini in Samos is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos. It is found on the western side of Kerki, the Holy Mountain of Samos, and built within a cave probably during the days of St. Paul Latrinos in the 10th century. Frescoes from the 14th century decorate the church, among which are depictions of birds, plants and animals. The groin vault bears the building date of 16 August 1764. At the bottom of the cave there are small pits and earthen pots which fill from the water from the stalactites. Inside the cave were found human bones, probably of monastics who formerly resided here.

In olden times this church was part of a larger monastery. In the caves of the mountain, ascetics used to live, which is why the area is known as "askitaria". According to a Patriarchal Sigillion from 1816, this monastery belonged to the Monastery of Saint George Sinai in Monidrion of Kastania.


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