KOINONIA: HYPERDULIA VERSUS LATRIA. MARIOLOGY

Hyperdulia versus latria

Hyperdulia versus latria
Catherine N Whittle DD and Luky Whittle PhD

Abstract: The teachings of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches

regarding hyperdulia, the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as distinct

from latria, the adoration due to God alone, constitutes a principal context

within these traditions. The question whether any form of veneration whatever

is due to any created being has been a matter for controversy for centuries.

Hyperdulia is the specific degree of veneration offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary

on account of the Virgin's eminent dignity as Mother of God. This should be

distinguished from both latria, which is the worship due only to God, and

dulia, the honour paid to other saints and to the angels. Hyperdulia

has been dismissed by some as Mariolatry. This term is defined inter alia

as the idolatrous worship of the Virgin Mary and an exaggerated degree

of veneration of the Virgin Mary. Mariology, the term used by Catholics

to denote the branch of theology which related to Mary, is defined inter alia

as the theological study and the body of belief concerning the Virgin Mary.

Concern has been expressed that in certain cases appropriate honour

due to the Mother of God (hyperdulia) has been unduly replaced by worship

owed to God alone (latria). It has been further posited that Mary

has been raised by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions

to the position of a female deity and as such worthy of divine worship

and one to whom prayer should be addressed. This paper constitutes

an endeavour to explore the authentic role of Mary within the Christian church

with particular reference to hyperdulia versus latria within the Marian phenomenon.

Keywords: Eastern Orthodox, Hyperdulia, Latria, Lumen Gentium, Mariophobia,

Mariolatry, Mariology, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Theotokos, Vatican Council II

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