KnowraTheotokosTheotokosTheotokos is a title for Mary meaning “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” It affirms that Jesus, whom she bore, is divine.BriefConnectCouncil of Ephesus: The ecumenical council held in 431 that affirmed Mary as Theotokos against Nestorius’s teaching. Its ruling established Theotokos as a doctrinal boundary in the dispute over Christ’s identity.Incarnation: The Christian doctrine that the eternal Son of God assumed human nature in Jesus Christ. Theotokos presupposes that the one born from Mary is the incarnate Son.Hail Mary: A traditional Christian prayer addressed to Mary, combining biblical greetings with a petition for her intercession. Its opening calls Mary “Mother of God,” making the title part of everyday devotion.Christotokos: A Greek title meaning “Christ-bearer,” proposed in the fifth-century controversy as an alternative to Theotokos. The competing title raised the question of whether Mary bore the divine person or only Christ’s human nature.Nestorius: A fifth-century archbishop of Constantinople whose teaching about Christ and Mary was condemned at Ephesus. His objections to the title helped precipitate the controversy that defined its doctrinal force.Hypostatic union: The Christian doctrine that Christ’s divine and human natures are united in one person. The title concerns the person Mary bore, not the origin of Christ’s divine nature.Akathist to the Theotokos: A Byzantine hymn of praise to Mary, traditionally sung while standing and especially associated with the Annunciation. It gives the title a central place in Byzantine liturgical poetry.Anthropotokos: A Greek term meaning “human-bearer,” used in Christological debates to emphasize Christ’s humanity. It illustrates the risk opponents saw in describing Mary’s maternity without affirming Christ’s divinity.Cyril of Alexandria: A fifth-century theologian and bishop of Alexandria who led opposition to Nestorius and defended Theotokos. His arguments connected the title to the unity of Christ’s person.Christology: The branch of Christian theology concerned with the identity and nature of Jesus Christ. Theotokos functions as a concise claim within Christian accounts of Christ.Show all 22Linked from 15 pagesCouncil of ChalcedonRelated: The council upheld this title as consistent with its Christological definition.Mary, mother of JesusRelated: The title expresses the claim about Jesus that underlies Mary’s status in many churches.Gregory of NazianzusRelated: Gregory used the title to argue that the one born from Mary was truly God.Madonna and ChildRelated: The title expresses why Mary’s motherhood carries theological significance in these images.Virgin birth of JesusRelated: The title expresses the claim that the one Mary bore is truly divine as well as human.Dormition of the Mother of GodRelated: The feast honors Mary by the title central to Eastern Christian devotion to her.Theodoret of CyrrhusRelated: The title became a flashpoint in the controversy over how Christ’s divinity and humanity relate.Show all 15