Early Titles of Mary English Latin Greek Notes :Chinese: ( 利 ), Coptic ,(مريم) Arabic: Maryām Mariam Mariam, French: Marie, German: Maria, Italian: Maria, ,Maltese: Marija ,(מרים) Mary Maria (Μαριάµ), Maria Judeo-Aramaic: Maryām (Μαρία) Portuguese: Maria, Russian: Marija (Мария), Spanish: María, Syriac: Mariam, Vietnamese: Maria; Marija “Full of Grace” Gratia plena, kecharitomene “Blessed” Beata, from the angel’s greeting to Mary in Luke 1:28 (κεχαριτωµένη) “Most Blessed” Beatissima Greek parthenos used in Matthew 1:23; Ignatius of “Virgin” Parthenos Virgo Antioch refers to Mary's virginity and motherhood (ca. “the Virgin” (Παρθένος) 110) “Cause of our Causa Salutis according to Irenaeus of Lyons (150–202) Salvation” “Advocate of Advocata Evæ Eve” Meter Theou “Mother of God” Mater Dei often abbr. ΜΡ ΘΥ in Greek iconography (Μήτηρ Θεοῦ) lit. “one who bears the One who is God”; a common title in Eastern Christianity with christological implications; Deipara, Dei Theotokos “God-bearer” adopted officially during Council of Ephesus (431) in Genetrix (Θεοτόκος) response to Nestorianism, which questioned the Church’s teaching that Jesus Christ’s nature was unified aie-parthenos “Ever-virgin” Semper Virgo (ἀειπάρθενος) “Holy Mary” Hagia Maria Sancta Maria Latin Greek Notes “Saint Mary” (Ἁγία Μαρία) English Latin Greek Notes “Most Pure” Purissima akeratos “Immaculate” Immaculata (ἀκήρατος) related, “Madonna” (Italian: Madonna, from ma “my” + “Lady” Despoina Domina donna “lady”; from Latin domina); also, “Notre Dame” “Mistress” (Δέσποινα) (French: Notre Dame, lit. “our lady”) “Queen of Regina Coeli, Mary is identified with the figure in Revelation 12:1 Heaven” Regina Caeli “Star of the Sea” Stella Maris attributed to St. Jerome “Seat of Sedes
Wisdom” Sapientiae Causa “Cause of Our Nostrae Joy” Laetitiae “Help of Auxilium
Christians” Christianorum
[Compiled by Deacon Dave & Thérèse Ream, O.F.S., Revised July 2017]