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.



April 23, 2022

Homily for Holy Saturday (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin)


By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin

Everyone is preparing for the upcoming feast, everyone is busy with one thing - how to better celebrate the Bright Resurrection of Christ. To help your preparation somewhat, I will say in brief words the main thing: how we, Christians, should celebrate the Bright Resurrection of Christ.

How should we celebrate? Celebrate, listeners, as merrily as possible; rejoice, listeners, as much as possible. This is the main thing: rejoice as much as possible, celebrate as merrily as possible. The Resurrection of Christ brought us such joy that we will never exhaust everything, no matter how much we rejoice; in Jesus Christ there is so much consolation for us that we can never rejoice in Him to the fullest. Look at our mother - the Holy Orthodox Church - tomorrow see how she rejoices and is glad. She, one might say, is all joy, all fun, she seems to be all with us in Heaven, and not on earth, all triumphs, and does not fight.

Listen to what Jesus Christ said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as they came to His tomb. He said "rejoice". Of course, He knew to whom He spoke, He knew that these women would understand how to rejoice, He knew that they would not forget Him in the midst of their joy.

But I also know to whom I am speaking: I am speaking to Christians who understand that it is a sin in the midst of joy to forget their Christ, the Source of joy.

So, I’ll tell you, listeners: be as cheerful as possible on the bright feast of Christ, rejoice as much as possible in the Bright Resurrection of Christ. With a gloomy face, with malice in the heart, with slyness in the tongue, it is indecent, it is a sin to celebrate Easter in this manner for us, Orthodox Christians, for our Easter - Jesus Christ slain for us - is eternal joy.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you to celebrate the feast merrily and joyfully, and may He Himself preserve you in the midst of joy and gladness from all vice and deceit. Amen.
 
 


 
 
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