Theotokos (God-bearer)
To call Mary Mother of God is really a confession about who her Son is
Theotokos, 'God-bearer,' affirms that Mary may rightly be called Mother of God because the one she bore is a single divine person, the eternal Son. Defined at the Council of Ephesus through Cyril of Alexandria against Nestorius, the title is embraced by Catholic and Orthodox traditions. It is sometimes downplayed in Protestant practice, though it follows logically from the Chalcedonian confession of Christ's one person.
How it traveled
- LukeRome · 84explains
- Against Heresies: Book IIILyons · 202explains
- The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.— · 220explains
- On the Flesh of Christ.— · 220explains
- The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary.— · 220explains
- Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the FleshEdessa · 373explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Concerning VirginsMilan · 397explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Apostles' CreedAquileia · 411explains
- The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed MaryBethlehem · 420explains
- Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious MenBethlehem · 420explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · 430explains
- Reply to Faustus the ManichæanHippo Regius · 430explains
- Of Holy VirginityHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Third Ecumenical Council: The Council of EphesusEphesus · 431explains
- The Seven Books of John Cassian on the Incarnation of the Lord, Against NestoriusMarseille · 435explains
- The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates ScholasticusConstantinople (Istanbul) · 439explains
- The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All HeresiesLérins · 445explains
- The Fourth Ecumenical Council. The Council of ChalcedonChalcedon · 451explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of ConstantinopleConstantinople (Istanbul) · 553explains
- John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox FaithDamascus · 749explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
Key passages(20)
The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils
The Third Ecumenical Council: The Council of Ephesus · The Ecumenical Councils
Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna On the Day that They Met in the Temple. · Methodius
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Fourth Ecumenical Council. The Council of Chalcedon · The Ecumenical Councils
The Seven Books of John Cassian on the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius · John Cassian
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Concerning Virgins · Ambrose of Milan
Concerning Virgins · Ambrose of Milan
Select Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Appendix to the Works of Hippolytus. Containing Dubious and Spurious Pieces. · Hippolytus
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John · Augustine of Hippo
The Book of John Concerning the Falling Asleep of Mary. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus · Socrates Scholasticus
The Passing of Mary: Second Latin Form. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Third Ecumenical Council: The Council of Ephesus · The Ecumenical Councils
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas