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Hello Folks,

I'm wondering why do some Byzantine Catholic Churches...use the words "Mother of God" rather than using "Theotokos?"

I firmly feel that "Theotokos" have a stronger meaning in her role...it defines her more accurately and more powerfully than the watered down terms "Mother of God."

I also wonder if using "Mother of God" is another form of Latinization?

Why can't we go back to "Theotokos?"

Thanks.

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

PS...Yeah..although I'm deaf....so you can laugh when I say this: I think "Theotokos" have a nicer ring to it (sounds better) huh?


"Through the intercession of the Theotokos O Savior save us!"

From my prospective coming from a Slavic church, I think that the term "Mother of God" is used because it was an easy and familiar way of translating "Bohorodica".

I appreciate the two words "Theotokos" and "Bohorodica" because they are "one word" discriptions. We in English do not have one single word to use that fully means the same thing. We rely on multiple words in trying to translate the original such as "Mother of God" or "Birth-Giver of God", and sometimes "God-Bearer".

I don't think it is a Latinization, it's just a problem one commonly faces when translating from one language to another.

If Mother of God would be a Latinization if would sound "Deigenitrix" which is the proper Latin term. But I love Theotokos too.

May the Mother of God protect us with Her mantle.

Slava Isusu Hristu!

I don't think the term "Mother of God" is weak.

When we talk about Mary, ultimately we are talking about Jesus. Be it "bearer" or "mother," the key term is "God". That's what Nestor stood against. That's what Ephesus stood for. My opinion.

"Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour save us!"

God bless,
Christopher

PS: I know the Romanian uses "Mother of God" (Maica Domnului) and Armenian uses "God-bearer" (Asdvadzazeen). Makes sense as much Romanian religious terminology came from Church Slavonic, and much Armenian religious terms came directly from the Greek.

So okay, if the "Mother of God" isn't weak...and isn't "Latinization" and...just different interpretation of Slavic...Greek...or whatever...it is to make it "Mother of God."

Then why does the Orthodox Churches use "Theotokos" and the Byzantine Churches use "Mother of God?"

I mean...I think that uses of a particular word(s) do have effect on what a Church believes or think. It just makes it seem like these two Churches are more different in that approach than the same (which we should be).

I guess I'm more Orthodox than Byzantine Catholic, huh? (or am I more Byzantine than Byzantine Catholic?)

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

To me this seems likely due to the translations which the jurisdictions choose to use. I have the "Jordanville Prayerbook" (ROCA) and the "Greyslake Prayerbook" (Serbian Orth) which both use the term "Mother of God".

Then conversely some of us Greek Catholics use "Theotokos", as our deacon does whenever he gets a chance.

One could hear either version in the same church, depending on how much "cutting and pasting" is done for the services.

I am not sure of this, but I have somewhat of an idea that translators may have felt that 'if we're translating it into English, then why should we use Greek?'

If Theotokos works for you: Go for it!

With Best Wishes;
Stefan-Ivan

[ 06-19-2002: Message edited by: Stefan-Ivan ]