You both claim to be Orthodox, but you two seem to disagree on Mary being the Mother of God.
What’s up with that?
I don’t claim to be Orthodox. I am. I don’t have a problem with Mary as the Mother of God, because Jesus is God, and because I know that the term does not imply that she was the source of Jesus’ deity. The term also shows up in passing in some Orthodox liturgical texts. But the preferred title is Theotokos, and I think the term Theotokos (God-bearer) is more precise, and somehow doesn’t set off the same knee-jerk reactons from people who reject any honor to Mary, and who don’t wish to understand why and how the Church’s theology developed. As the poster I replied to says, “Theotokos” says more about Christ than it does about Mary, without diminshing her role in God’s work of salvation. She deserves that recognition. And her inclusion in our theology and devotion also affirms important christological doctrines.