'Theotokos'?

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Silyosha

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I’ve noticed that some in the Orthodox church refer to Our Lady as ‘Theotokos’ or ‘the Theotokos’. I’m curious as to exactly what this means–as in, is it similar to ‘Mother of God’?. Is it okay for me, a traditionalist Catholic, to refer to Our Lady as ‘Theotokos’ or would that not be appropriate? I kind of like the sound of it but I have a very vague idea of what it means. Thanks, everyone!
 
Silyosha said:
I’ve noticed that some in the Orthodox church refer to Our Lady as ‘Theotokos’ or ‘the Theotokos’. I’m curious as to exactly what this means–as in, is it similar to ‘Mother of God’?. Is it okay for me, a traditionalist Catholic, to refer to Our Lady as ‘Theotokos’ or would that not be appropriate? I kind of like the sound of it but I have a very vague idea of what it means. Thanks, everyone!
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I think a more literal English translation would be “God-bearer”, but Mother of God is often used. I hear the term used here often by Catholics, though I can’t say about “Traditionalist Catholics”. Lutherans have no trouble with its usage, either. I don’t know about other Protestants.

Jon
 
Yes, literally “God - bearer.” Not that I can personally translate, but I’ve heard it from diverse sources.
 
Yes, a traditional Catholic can use it! It’s not a title used in the Latin Church, but as a traditionalist I often take things for personal devotion from the East, and also from modern developments (e.g. I pray the luminous mysteries).

It is a beautiful title for the Blessed Virgin, and it is, just like the title “Mother of God” an expression of what was taught at the Council of Ephesus – that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother not just of Our Lord’s Human Nature, but of Him as a Divine Person – therefore she is the Mother of God, the God-bearer, the Theotokos.
 
JonNC said:
I think a more literal English translation would be “God-bearer”, but Mother of God is often used.
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I am not expert English language - so “bear” is odd word to understand. I never heard of it except as a brown or black furry animal

But τοκοσ comes from verb τικτω meaning to give birth, to “beget” to be born from. This is what is a Mother. This Greek word Theotokos is translated in Slavonic Богородица Bogoroditsa which is women who gives birth (родить) to God. Maybe gives birth to is better than “bears” - which according to my dictionary has meaning (after brown furry animal) as verb to carry or equip with,
 
Volodymyr said:
I am not expert English language - so “bear” is odd word to understand. I never heard of it except as a brown or black furry animal

But τοκοσ comes from verb τικτω meaning to give birth, to “beget” to be born from. This is what is a Mother. This Greek word Theotokos is translated in Slavonic Богородица Bogoroditsa which is women who gives birth (родить) to God. Maybe gives birth to is better than “bears” - which according to my dictionary has meaning (after brown furry animal) as verb to carry or equip with,
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In English, to bear is a verb, and means to support, to hold up, and to endure. A woman of child-bearing years is one who can still have children. So, “God-bearer” is the one who gave birth to God (in His incarnate form).

English is a strange language indeed. 😛

Jon
 
Actually, “God bearer” is NOT an accurate rendering of “Theotokos”. That word would be “Theophore/-os/” in Greek, depending on the gender.

Theotokos means literally “God-birthgiver”. The Slavonic equivalent is Bogorodistya. The Latin is Deipara or Dei genetrix.

However, for ordinary usage, the English “Mother of God” (Mitir tou Theou in Greek; Mater Dei in Latin) is considered equivalent.

Since “Theotokos” is a word accepted as definitive by the Third Ecumenical Council (Deipara or Dei genetrix in the Latin texts of the acts of this council), there is no problem with Catholics using it.
 
bpbasilphx said:
Actually, “God bearer” is NOT an accurate rendering of “Theotokos”. That word would be “Theophore/-os/” in Greek, depending on the gender.

Theotokos means literally “God-birthgiver”. The Slavonic equivalent is Bogorodistya. The Latin is Deipara or Dei genetrix.

However, for ordinary usage, the English “Mother of God” (Mitir tou Theou in Greek; Mater Dei in Latin) is considered equivalent.

Since “Theotokos” is a word accepted as definitive by the Third Ecumenical Council (Deipara or Dei genetrix in the Latin texts of the acts of this council), there is no problem with Catholics using it.
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Thanks for the information. 👍

Jon
 
Silyosha said:
I’ve noticed that some in the Orthodox church refer to Our Lady as ‘Theotokos’ or ‘the Theotokos’. I’m curious as to exactly what this means–as in, is it similar to ‘Mother of God’?. Is it okay for me, a traditionalist Catholic, to refer to Our Lady as ‘Theotokos’ or would that not be appropriate? I kind of like the sound of it but I have a very vague idea of what it means. Thanks, everyone!
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I personally love using it as it sounds much more respectful (to me at least) to use Theotokos instead of just Mary.

In Christ,
Andrew
 
The Council of Ephesus ruled that all Christians must confess that she is Theotokos, which is where the split with the Assyrians - who refer to her as Christotokos - happened.

The term “Mother of God” or Ματρα θεος also appears in Orthodox prayers (both are present in the most commonly sung Theotokon in the Divine Liturgy), so for that reason I find it best to avoid translating Theotokos as “Mother of God”.

However the two titles are similar and it is not big deal if you do. The only real difference is that Theotokos makes it clear that Mary was the mother of the incarnation, whereas the term “Mother of God” could be incorrectly interpreted to mean mother of the God eternal.
 
Harpazo said:
I personally love using it as it sounds much more respectful (to me at least) to use Theotokos instead of just Mary.

In Christ,
Andrew
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I also don’t really use “Mary or Ever Virgin Mary or Mother Mary” when I pray my personal prayers as it seems a little disrepectful to me for some reason. I’m not saying it is, but it just doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m weird like that though, when I was a Catholic, I always used to stick in a “Please” into the Hail Mary so it was for me: Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos), “Please” pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. I don’t know I guess I figure if I’m asking someone of such high honor for something, I ought to at least be polite!

In my prayers, I always call her either Theotokos or Panagia or Iperagia Theotoke meaning Mother of God, All Holy One, or Most Holy Mother of God. Those words just come more easily to my tongue 😃
 
As a Greek Orthodox Christian, Theotokos is Our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary which is also known as Panagia Maria.
 
I actually attended a protestant service recently and was weirded out by the use of “Mary” (it was a Christmas service)
 
bpbasilphx said:
Actually, “God bearer” is NOT an accurate rendering of “Theotokos”. That word would be “Theophore/-os/” in Greek, depending on the gender.

Theotokos means literally “God-birthgiver”. The Slavonic equivalent is Bogorodistya. The Latin is Deipara or Dei genetrix.

However, for ordinary usage, the English “Mother of God” (Mitir tou Theou in Greek; Mater Dei in Latin) is considered equivalent.

Since “Theotokos” is a word accepted as definitive by the Third Ecumenical Council (Deipara or Dei genetrix in the Latin texts of the acts of this council), there is no problem with Catholics using it.
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Thanks for the detailed reply and for giving me the name in other languages. It’s quite helpful.
 
Nine_Two said:
I actually attended a protestant service recently and was weirded out by the use of “Mary” (it was a Christmas service)
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I’ll have to agree with you there–it seems too ‘little’ for her.
 
JonNC said:
How so?
Jon
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Two Nine is off line now, but I’d venture to guess it’s because us Orthodox are so used to giving the Theotokos the honor by how we speak about her. Using the titles which the Church has bestowed upon her rather than just calling her by her first name.

When Nine Two comes back on-line he’ll be able to tell you if my guess is right or not.
 
Silyosha said:
I’ll have to agree with you there–it seems too ‘little’ for her.
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Yeah her using her first name makes her sound like so ordinary and we all know that the Panagia was *anything but *ordinary!

She’s the most extraordinary woman to walk the face of this earth! 👍
 
JonNC said:
How so?
Jon
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It’s just not what I’m used to. As Monica said, the few times “Mary” is used in Orthodox circles it is always with other honourifics. Even in casual conversation we tend to use Theotokos.

It isn’t something I hold against Churches which don’t use honorifics for her, it just felt weird to hear, especially since only a few hours earlier I had left an Orthodox service.
 
Nine_Two said:
It’s just not what I’m used to. As Monica said, the few times “Mary” is used in Orthodox circles it is always with other honourifics. Even in casual conversation we tend to use Theotokos.

It isn’t something I hold against Churches which don’t use honorifics for her, it just felt weird to hear, especially since only a few hours earlier I had left an Orthodox service.
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OK. Thanks to both of you for the explanation. I can understand that. 👍

Jon
 
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