MYSTAGOGY RESOURCE CENTER: The First Feast Day of Saint Gervasios of Patras Since His Canonization

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.

July 1, 2024

The First Feast Day of Saint Gervasios of Patras Since His Canonization

June 30th marked the first celebration of our Venerable Father Gervasios Paraskevopoulos after his official canonization by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on November 16, 2023. It is 60 years since he reposed, and 10 years since the translation of his sacred relics.

In an atmosphere of deep emotion and spiritual joy and rejoicing, the people of Patras celebrated their beloved Saint with solemnity and reverence.

Crowds of believers, throughout the month, hastened to venerate the grace-filled relics of the Holy Teacher and Spiritual Father of Patras, who led multitudes to God and His Church for their salvation.

A Multi-Hierarchical Vespers was celebrated in the evening of Saturday, June 29th in the Church of Saint Paraskevi at the Camp in Sichena, Patras, which was built by Saint Gervasios for the youth and where his tomb and sacred relics are located.

A Multi-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Sunday, June 30th in the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Patras, where the relics of Saint Gervasios were transferred for the feast. Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, as a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, presided over the Divine Liturgy and preached the sermon, which can be read here.

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