[Kolokotronis]

"And all this several centuries before the Incarnation of the Logos, the Son of God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, the monogenes -- another Greek word denoting the "first-born Son of God." Before the coming of Christ, the monogenes referred to the Cosmos itself. After Christ, the monogenes was understood as the man Jesus...."

Very early on in the Divine Liturgy we chant a beautiful hymn which begins:

"Ο μονογενης Υιος και Λογος του Θεου...." (O First-born Son and Word of God....)

At the very beginning of the Liturgy, we get right into the earliest theology of The Church! It continues: "...being Immortal, condescended for our salvation to be incarnate of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and unchangeably became Man; and crucified, O Christ our God, You trampled Death by death, being One of the Holy Trinity, glorified, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit; save us!"

[betty boop]

Indeed, that is an exquisitely beautiful hymn, dear Kolokotronis! Thank you so much!!!

[kosta50]

monogenes -- another Greek word denoting the "first-born Son of God

And here I was, silly me, thinking all along that μονογενες meant only [mono] begotten [genes].

Wouldn't first-born imply that there may be a "second-born?"