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 12, 2020

Synaxarion of the Annunciation of the Metastasis of the Theotokos


By Monk Gerasimos Mikragiannanitou

On the 12th of this month [August], we commemorate the Annunciation of the Metastasis [Translocation] of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel on the Mount of Olives.

Verses

Your Metastasis was declared by Gabriel,
As before he cried out "Rejoice" to you O Virgin.
On the twelfth Gabriel beheld the Maiden on the mountain.

After the Ascension on the Mount of Olives of the Lord, He Who was born of the Ever-Virgin Maiden, she would often go up there, sending up her prayers to her Son and God, in that place. There the divine Archangel Gabriel flew down, informing her that after three days she would be translocated to her Son and God. Hearing this with joy, she thanked God and returned to her house where she prepared for her burial.

In keeping this tradition, our Holy Church celebrates this event, singing hymns and praising with spiritual odes, the immortal Dormition of our Lady the Theotokos.

May we attain through her intercessions the heavenly kingdom, by the grace and philanthropy of our God and Savior Jesus Christ Who was unutterably incarnated by her. Amen.


Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
The divinely-inspired message, of your Metastasis, to heaven from earth, you received All-Immaculate One, on the Mount of Olives. Wherefore we praise with songs divine, your Dormition, singing hymns to you Theotokos, and faithfully crying out: Rejoice you who translocated, from the earth to the heavens.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
In the place you were praying O Immaculate One, the Archangel Gabriel came down from heaven, making known to you with gladness O Pure One, your holy Metastasis.

Oikos
Beforehand Gabriel had descended from heaven, O Pure One, to the city of Nazareth, to announce the divine pleasure and seedless conception of the Most-divine Word, towards the reformation of the world. Now he descends to the Mount of Olives, at the counsel of your Son, in the place where you sent up prayers to the Lord, to announce your ascent and divine Metastasis towards Him. And you ascended towards the kingdom above, as the Queen of all, proceeding gloriously towards the heavens.

Megalynarion
Gabriel cried out to you "Rejoice", descending on the Mountain, of Olives Mother of God, saying that you would, ascend in glory to your Son, who is the King of all, Virgin Immaculate.

 Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.








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