Translation of Theotokos - The Byzantine Forum

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#260311 - 11/03/07 10:58 PM Translation of Theotokos
Dr. Eric Catholic Gyoza Member Registered: 11/17/05 Posts: 4030 Loc: Grottaferrata (I wish!)	As I don't follow this Forum very much, I don't know what is being proposed. But we say Theotokos at Divine Liturgy, doesn't that translate as God Bearer? Wouldn't Mother of God be something else in Greek?
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#260357 - 11/04/07 04:58 AM Re: Translation of Theotokos [Re: Dr. Eric]
Serge Keleher Member Registered: 06/22/06 Posts: 3721 Loc: Dublin	No, Theotokos is not accurately translated as God-Bearer. That is Theophoros, and is a title used for a substantial number of Saints. Fr. Serge
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#260376 - 11/04/07 09:28 AM Re: Translation of Theotokos [Re: Serge Keleher]
Athanasius The L AthanasiusTheLesser Member Registered: 06/29/06 Posts: 746 Loc: Houston, TX	I really don't see what's wrong with "God-bearer" as a reasonably accurate translation of "Theotokos," since the most accurate translation is probably "one who gives birth to God" or "birth-giver of God." ISTM that if I were to say "today my wife bore a child," while the guy in the next room were to say, "today my wife gave birth to a child," there's no real difference in meaning between the two phrases. Ryan
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#260420 - 11/04/07 07:46 PM Re: Translation of Theotokos [Re: Dr. Eric]
Diak Member Registered: 03/24/02 Posts: 6403 Loc: Kansas	CIX! Doc, a more literal translation of Theotokos would be "Birth-giver of God" which is used in some Orthodox translations, and can even be found in a couple of obscure Greek Catholic translations.
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#260585 - 11/05/07 03:59 PM Re: Translation of Theotokos [Re: Diak]
Laka Ya Rabb Member Registered: 10/11/05 Posts: 442 Loc: Phoenix	I agree actually like "Birth-giver of God". But that is just me. Father Seraphim Rose used this title if I remember correctly. Sayidna Nicholas Samra said at the Byzantine Spirituality conference I atteded this weekend that he prefers to retain the word Theotokos and thinks the translation birth-giver of God is some what lop-sided.
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#260665 - 11/06/07 12:27 AM Re: Translation of Theotokos [Re: Laka Ya Rabb]
Dr. Eric Catholic Gyoza Member Registered: 11/17/05 Posts: 4030 Loc: Grottaferrata (I wish!)	OK learned gentlemen, what about Mother of God. Mater Theou? Does that appear in the Greek Liturgy?
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#260666 - 11/06/07 12:42 AM Re: Translation of Theotokos [Re: Dr. Eric]
Slavipodvizhnik Member Registered: 07/23/05 Posts: 1852 Loc: The Third Rome	Матерь Бога appears in the Doistono "Est. But it is descriptive rather than Salutatory.
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