Why is Mary called Panagia?

[Not David]

What's the meaning of her title?

 

[Silmarien]

It means All-Holy.

παν (pan) is a prefix which means "all." Think pantheism or panacea.
ἅγια (hagia) is the feminine form of the adjective "holy," or in the biblical context, a saint. Think of hagiography or the Hagia Sophia.

 

[GraceBro]

What's the meaning of her title?

From my limited understanding, Panagia means Virgin. It is "one of the titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity (Wikipedia)." Hope that helps.

 

[-Sasha-]

It's a title used by (primarily) Greek Orthodox in the same manner as Theotokos is.

 

[-Sasha-]

How we might say "most holy Theotokos, pray to God for us" saying "Panagia Theotokos pray to God for us" or simply "Panagia pray to God for us" would be the same, or "most holy mother of God, pray to God for us"

 

[prodromos]

From my limited understanding, Panagia means Virgin.

No, it is "parthena" that means "virgin", which is often used with other titles the Church has recognised for her

 

[Not David]

It means All-Holy.

παν (pan) is a prefix which means "all." Think pantheism or panacea.
ἅγια (hagia) is the feminine form of the adjective "holy," or in the biblical context, a saint. Think of hagiography or the Hagia Sophia.

Interesting, I didn't know you knew Greek.

 

[Not David]

It's a title used by (primarily) Greek Orthodox in the same manner as Theotokos is.

Do you know why she is called Panagia?

 

[Silmarien]

Interesting, I didn't know you knew Greek.

Only about a semester's worth at this point, but the payoff in etymology is pretty much immediate.

 

[-Sasha-]

Do you know why she is called Panagia?

Similarly with all the saints - the honor we show them is based in their relationship with God...but her relationship is especially important; Mary is uniquely honored for her role in bringing Christ into the stream of humanity for us.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I know that I will call down all the wrath and scorn of the posters on this thread, but, as many have discovered, I have very thick skin.

The title, panagia, was given to Mary much later than the cessation of the writing of the New Testament. It is a word that is foreign to the pages of the Bible.

 

[prodromos]

I know that I will call down all the wrath and scorn of the posters on this thread, but, as many have discovered, I have very thick skin.

The title, panagia, was given to Mary much later than the cessation of the writing of the New Testament. It is a word that is foreign to the pages of the Bible.

What difference does that make?

 

[bbbbbbb]

What difference does that make?

I suppose it makes no difference to you, but I do find it a bit hypocritical that you advised a Catholic poster on another thread that one ought to avoid all the stuff that the Catholic Church has added over the centuries and join your church which has not added anything over the centuries. The fact, of course, is that both denominations have added plenty of Tradition over the centuries, the added title of panagia to Mary being one of them.

 

[prodromos]

I suppose it makes no difference to you, but I do find it a bit hypocritical that you advised a Catholic poster on another thread that one ought to avoid all the stuff that the Catholic Church has added over the centuries and join your church which has not added anything over the centuries. The fact, of course, is that both denominations have added plenty of Tradition over the centuries, the added title of panagia to Mary being one of them.

It's a title, an honorific, recognising Mary's place among the Saints and the role she has continued to play in the Church over the centuries. It isn't a change in the thelogy of the Church.
Does a nation change when it honors its heroes?
Plus, the title was given when there was only one Church, and a bunch of heretical groups. Do you align yourself with that Church, or with the heretics?

 

[bbbbbbb]

It's a title, an honorific, recognising Mary's place among the Saints and the role she has continued to play in the Church over the centuries. It isn't a change in the thelogy of the Church.
Does a nation change when it honors its heroes?
Plus, the title was given when there was only one Church, and a bunch of heretical groups. Do you align yourself with that Church, or with the heretics?

Theology does change when we treat Christians as demi-gods and demi-goddesses and give them appropriate titles.

 

[Not David]

Theology does change when we treat Christians as demi-gods and demi-goddesses and give the appropriate titles.

*gods by grace.

 

[bbbbbbb]

*gods by grace.

So you admit that you are polytheistic in your theology, believing in many gods subservient to the Holy Trinity?

 

[Not David]

So you admit that you are polytheistic in your theology, believing in many gods subservient to the Holy Trinity?

I'm monotheistic but the Bible says "you are gods".

 

[-Sasha-]

So you admit that you are polytheistic in your theology, believing in many gods subservient to the Holy Trinity?

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

This has been a perplexing verse for many. If one takes it to mean "gods" in the standard definition, it would clearly state there are many gods, not one as affirmed throughout the Bible, thus forming a distinct contradiction of the Bible, leading to the obvious conclusion that one cannot believe the Bible, or that one has the liberty to pick and choose what one wishes to believe in the Bible.

Moreover, these "gods" are not immortal, but mortal, thus contradicting the definition of what a god is, leaving one to redefine "god" or to determine why these "gods" are mortal.

The Hebrew language, unlike Greek, is quite imprecise and has many words that carry multiple meanings. Some English translations of this verse use "judges" rather than "gods". I believe that this comes much closer to the intended meaning than a literal translation as "gods".