Theotokos (greek word, meaning God-bearer)
The use of Theotokos was formally affirmed at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. Scriptural basis for the dogma is found in John 1:14 which states "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" and in Galatians 4:4 which states "God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law". Luke 1:35 further affirms divine maternity by stating: "The holy Spirit will come upon you. ...Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God." The dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium at the Second Vatican Council affirmed Mary as the Mother of God. "The Virgin Mary, who at the message of the angel received the Word of God in her heart and in her body and gave Life to the world, is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer." This dogma is inherently related to the Christological dogma of the hypostatic union which relates the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ. The Catechism teaches that "Mary is truly 'Mother of God' since she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself."