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.



March 7, 2014

Miraculous Athonite Icon of the Theotokos Found in Russia


A wonderworking Athonite icon of the Theotokos, with the epithet "Joy and Consolation", which was considered lost, was found in a monastery in the region of Ryazan and will be returned to Resurrection (Novodevichy) Convent in St. Petersburg, according to a report from the website of the Metropolis of Ryazan.

The icon of the Mother of God of Joy and Consolation was the primary icon for veneration in Novodevichy Monastery, which was founded in 1849 in St. Petersburg. After the Revolution, the Monastery was closed, looted and destroyed. It was believed that the icon was transferred to Tambov, where it was destroyed by fire.

Meanwhile, in the 1990's a resident of Tambov found and donated the icon of the Panagia of Joy and Consolation to the Monastery of the Dormition (Vyshenskaya Uspensky) in the region of Ryazan. The Abbot recently decided to proceed with the restoration and found an inscription on the back which is of the same catalogue with the miraculous icons of Mount Athos. In the festal calendar of the Church it is commemorated on January 21st.

"On the eve of the birth of the 200th anniversary of Saint Theophan the Recluse on April 27, a procession from Vyshenskaya Monastery to St. Petersburg will take place with all the sacred things of the Monastery, including the relics of Saint Theophan. Together with the sacred things of Vyshenskaya Monastery there will be an official transfer to Novodevichy Monastery of the icon of the Mother of God of Joy and Consolation", said the Abbot.

With the blessing of the Metropolitan of Ryazan, before the revered icon of the Panagia is given to St. Petersburg it will be given for veneration by the faithful: March 9-16 in Ryazan and March 16-23 in Kasimov.

This icon of the Theotokos is connected with Vatopaidi Monastery. Tradition says that the name came from the Monastery because of a miraculous rescue of the son of Emperor Theodosius the Great by the Panagia. In honor of this event the icon was called "Joy", and later after the Monastery was rescued from bandits the name "Consolation" was added.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.


Labels: , ,

BECOME A PATREON OR PAYPAL SUBSCRIBER


Patreon!