What is the meaning of Theotokos?

[Lorenzo]

What is the meaning of Theotokos?

[Lorenzo]

Answer:

The Theotokos is the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Theotokos is distinct from Christotokos although both words refer to the Virgin Mary. Theotokos refers to the the person who gave birth to God and Christotokos means the woman who gave birth to Jesus. Theo refers to "god" and "tokos" is the giving birth part. Like the spear-bearer or doryphoros, theophoros literally means god-bearer, although Theotokos is also often translated as god-bearer.



Reference:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/christianityglossary/g/Theotokos.htm

[Lorenzo]

"If one does not acknowledge Mary as Theotokos, he is estranged from God."

â€" St. Gregory of Nazianzus (Epist. 101)