Difference between revisions of "Theotokos"

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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 a tradition of the [[Orthodox Church|Church]] that Joseph and Mary did not have relations after the birth of [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]].
  
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== The Title ''Theotokos'' ==
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=== Third Ecumenical Council ===
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''Theotokos'' (in Greek, Θεοτοκος) is a Greek word that means "God-bearer" or "Birth-giver to God."
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As a title for the [[Virgin Mary]], ''Theotokos'' was recognized by the [[Orthodox Church]] at [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held at Ephesus in 431.  It had already been in use for some time in the devotional and liturgical life of the Church.  The [[theology|theological]] significance of the title is to emphasize that [[Virgin Mary|Mary]]'s son, [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]], is fully God, as well as fully human, and that [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]' two natures (divine and human) were united in a single [[Person]] of the [[Trinity]].  The competing view at that council was that Mary should be called '''''Christotokos''''' instead, meaning "Birth-giver to Christ."  This was the view advocated by [[Nestorius]], then Patriarch of Constantinople. The intent behind calling her ''Christotokos'' was to restrict her role to be only the mother of "Christ's humanity" and not his Divine nature.
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Nestorius' view was [[anathema]]tized by the Council as [[heresy]], (see [[Nestorianism]]), since it was considered to be dividing Jesus into two distinct persons, one who was Son of Mary, and another, the divine nature, who was not. It was defined that although Jesus has two natures, human and divine, these are eternally united in one personhood.  Because Mary is the mother of God the Son, she is therefore duly entitled ''Theotokos''.
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Calling Mary the ''Theotokos'' or the ''Mother of God'' (Μητηρ Θεου) was never meant to suggest that Mary was coeternal with God, or that she existed before Jesus Christ or God existed.  The Church acknowledges the mystery in the words of this ancient hymn: "He whom the entire universe could not contain was contained within your womb, O Theotokos."
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The title "Theotokos" continues to be used frequently in the [[hymn]]s of the [[Orthodox Church]].
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=== Translation of ''Theotokos'' ===
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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.
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The most popular translation, ''Mother of God'', is accurate to a point, but the difficulty with that one is that ''Mother of God'' is the literal translation of another Greek phrase which is found on nearly all icons of the Theotokos:  Μητηρ Θεου (Meter Theou), usually in the standard iconographic abbreviation of '''ΜΡ ΘΥ'''.  Additionally, a number of hymns employ both ''Theotokos'' and ''Meter Theou''—translating both as ''Mother of God'' can yield some rather nonsensical language, and it destroys the distinction that the hymnographer intended.
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The usage that seems to be most dominant in English-speaking Orthodox churches in North America is to adopt the original term itself into English (something English speakers have traditionally done with foreign words almost since the earliest known history of the language), Latinizing the spelling simply as ''Theotokos''. British usage gives preference to translating ''Theotokos'' as ''Mother of God''.
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==Sources==
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*[[Wikipedia:Theotokos]]
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[[Category:Saints]]

Revision as of 04:07, January 28, 2005

The Virgin Mary is the Theotokos, the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son and Word of God. She conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. She was cared for by her betrothed husband, 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 was also miraculous and left Mary's virginity intact as a sign; it is also a tradition of the Church that Joseph and Mary did not have relations after the birth of Jesus.


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The Title Theotokos

Third Ecumenical Council

Theotokos (in Greek, Θεοτοκος) is a Greek word that means "God-bearer" or "Birth-giver to God."

As a title for the Virgin Mary, Theotokos was recognized by the Orthodox Church at Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. It had already been in use for some time in the devotional and liturgical life of the Church. The theological significance of the title is to emphasize that Mary's son, Jesus, is fully God, as well as fully human, and that Jesus' two natures (divine and human) were united in a single Person of the Trinity. The competing view at that council was that Mary should be called Christotokos instead, meaning "Birth-giver to Christ." This was the view advocated by Nestorius, then Patriarch of Constantinople. The intent behind calling her Christotokos was to restrict her role to be only the mother of "Christ's humanity" and not his Divine nature.

Nestorius' view was anathematized by the Council as heresy, (see Nestorianism), since it was considered to be dividing Jesus into two distinct persons, one who was Son of Mary, and another, the divine nature, who was not. It was defined that although Jesus has two natures, human and divine, these are eternally united in one personhood. Because Mary is the mother of God the Son, she is therefore duly entitled Theotokos.

Calling Mary the Theotokos or the Mother of God (Μητηρ Θεου) was never meant to suggest that Mary was coeternal with God, or that she existed before Jesus Christ or God existed. The Church acknowledges the mystery in the words of this ancient hymn: "He whom the entire universe could not contain was contained within your womb, O Theotokos."

The title "Theotokos" continues to be used frequently in the hymns of the Orthodox Church.

Translation of 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.

The most popular translation, Mother of God, is accurate to a point, but the difficulty with that one is that Mother of God is the literal translation of another Greek phrase which is found on nearly all icons of the Theotokos: Μητηρ Θεου (Meter Theou), usually in the standard iconographic abbreviation of ΜΡ ΘΥ. Additionally, a number of hymns employ both Theotokos and Meter Theou—translating both as Mother of God can yield some rather nonsensical language, and it destroys the distinction that the hymnographer intended.

The usage that seems to be most dominant in English-speaking Orthodox churches in North America is to adopt the original term itself into English (something English speakers have traditionally done with foreign words almost since the earliest known history of the language), Latinizing the spelling simply as Theotokos. British usage gives preference to translating Theotokos as Mother of God.

Sources