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The '''Virgin Mary''' is the '''Theotokos''', the mother of [[Jesus Christ]], the Son and [[Logos|Word]] of God. She conceived by the power of the [[Holy Spirit]]. She was cared for by her betrothed husband, [[Joseph the Betrothed|Joseph]], who took the child and his mother into his home as his own. One very strong tradition in the [[Orthodox Church]] holds that the birth of [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]] was also miraculous and left Mary's virginity intact as a sign; it is also the tradition of the Church that Joseph and Mary did not have relations after the birth of Jesus. She is also called '''Panagia''', the "All-Holy," indicating her closeness to God in her obedience.
The title ''Theotokos'' (in Greek, ΘεοτοκοςΘεοτόκος) is a Greek word that means "God-bearer" or "Birth-giver to God."
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2. '''Translating the word ''Theotokos'''''
While some languages used by various Orthodox churches often have a single native word for ''Theotokos'', it gets translated into English in a number of ways. The most common is ''Mother of God'', though ''God-bearer'' and ''Birth-giver to God'' are also fairly common. There are difficulties with all these translations, however. The most literally correct one is ''Birth-giver to God'', though ''God-bearer'' comes close. ''Theophoros'' (Θεοφορος) is the Greek term usually and more correctly translated as ''God-bearer'', so using ''God-bearer'' for ''Theotokos'' in some sense "orphans" ''Theophoros'' when it comes time to translate that term (for St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]], for instance). The main difficulties with both these translations for ''Theotokos'' is that they are a bit awkward and difficult to sing.
*Holy Apostles Convent. ''The Life of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos''. (ISBN 0944359035)
* Dr. [[w:Brian E. Daley|Brian E. Daley]] (S.J.). ''"Woman of many names: Mary in Orthodox and Catholic theology."'' '''Theological Studies''' 71.4 (2010): pp.846+.
*Very Rev. Archimandrite Maximos Constas, trans. ''Mother of the Light: Prayers to the Theotokos''. Newrome Press, 2018. ISBN 9781939028822.
==External links==
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/bvm/theotokos.htm Icons of the Theotokos]
*[http://southern-orthodoxy.blogspot.com/2006/10/immaculate-misconception.html Immaculate (Mis)Conception] by Fr. Joseph Huneycutt
*[http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/greek/theotokos_2002_index.html/Theological articles devoted to the Theotokos] by '''Myriobiblos''' the Online library of the [[Church of Greece]] (Greek)
* Miriam Lambouras. ''[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/marian_apparitions.aspx "The Marian Apparitions: Divine Intervention or Delusion?"]'' '''[http://www.saintedwardbrotherhood.org/shepherd.html The Shepherd: An Orthodox Christian Pastoral Magazine]''' 16, no.12 (September 1996) to 18, no.4 (December 1997).
