Theotokos

The title Theotokos (Greek Θεοτόκος Theotókos, latin Dei Genetrix ), German and Mother of God, Mother of God or Mother of God ( Mater Dei ), is an honorary title for Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. The Solemnity of the Mother of God is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church on January 1, until the calendar reform of 1969 they celebrated the feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on October 11.

Regarding the terms Theotokos and Mother of God

The term Theotokos was first used at the Council of Ephesus in 431 against Nestorius, who taught Mary was Christ, ie born after trinitarian interpretation of the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople Opel Jesus Christ, who was both true man and true God, and not only the Son of God. In the formulation of the dogma a statement about Mary should be made, but Jesus Christ is not primarily.

The translation of the relatively neutral Greek term as Mother of God by the Catholic Church is offensive to some evangelical Christians - but not for Lutheran churches - because so Maria skidding in the vicinity of a pagan goddess, which explains the words travailing woman once wanted to specifically avoid.

The Catholic dogmatic theology sees the concept of God as mother eingängigeres synonymous with the word Theotokos. The thesis "Mary gave birth to God, but is not his mother," they discovered behind the above sense, it holds vice versa for a newer formulation exactly what the council once wanted to condemn. Nevertheless, it is by no means uncommon in the Latin texts Dei genetrix while Mater Dei mainly only, but prominent, occurs in the Ave Maria; So often it is a question of translation. As biblical evidence for the title Lk 1.43 EU is often cited in the Elisabet Maria called the mother of my Lord.

Iconography

The Mother of God is depicted in the iconography of Marie -portrait as Maria with the child.

The following main types of representation can be prepared starting from the early Byzantine forms differ:

• The type of Nikopoia ( " victory bringer " ) or Kyriotissa ( " mistress ", " Mother of the Lord "). Mary is shown seated on a throne while the baby Jesus central sitting on her lap. Another name of this type is Sedes sapientiae ( " Seat of Wisdom ").

• The type of Hodegetria ( " Wegweiserin "). The Child Jesus is shown on the left arm or thigh of Mary, while Mary is with the other arm on the child. Modifications are the type Dexiokratusa ( " holding on with her right hand " ) with whom the child is sitting on the right side and the type Tricherusa ( " Dreihändige " ) in which a third hand is shown.

• The type of Eleousa ( " Merciful " ) or Glykophilousa ( " caressing "). Mary is the child shown facing while touching the faces of the two.

• The type of Galaktotrophousa ( " Milchfütternde ", " Nursing "). Mary is represented at weaning. Another name of this type is Maria lactans.

• The type of Panagia ( " All Holy " ) or Platytera ( " Other "). Mary is depicted with arms outstretched in prayer, the Holy Child in a medallion on her chest. Other names this type are Virgo orans ( "Praying Virgin " ) and Maria orans ( " Praying Mary ").

At least since the third century, with the emergence of prayer under your protection We have recourse, O holy Mother of God, there is also the Madonna of Mercy.