Hes a poet to the core, and demonstrated amply, like the hebrew prophets, that beauty is the truest form of divine discourse. Gregory of narek was venerated as a saint by the armenian catholic church and is also recognized as a saint of the roman catholic church. Gregory of narek has been serving the armenian community in ohio for. Grigor narekatsi author of the armenian prayer book of st. New book to introduce armenian saint gregory of narek to. I was completely unaware of their existence and was quite touched by what i began to read.
St gregory of narek book of lamentations, grigor narekatsi c. He is the author of a mystical interpretation on the song of songs and numerous poetic writings. A new book by professor of philosophy michael papazian will introduce the world to armenian monk gregory of narek. Prayers inspired by gregory of narek presbyterian church. This morning, i telephoned an old armenian catholic friend to ask him about saint gregory of narek, recently proclaimed doctor of the church by pope francis. It appears that grigor narekatsi is a man of many talents. Gregory of narek, the marginal doctor word on fire. His book of prayers, also known as book of lamentations, a long mystical poem in 95 sections written around 977, has been translated into many languages. There he devoted much of his time to prayer and writing.
Gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Based in the monastery of narek narekavank, he was armenias first great poet. Gregory of narek armenian apostolic church in richmond heights, ohio. Samuelian, thomas and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. After the advent of movable type, the book was published in marseille in 1673, and has been translated into at least 30 languages. He is best known for his book of lamentations, a major piece of mystical. Since this is the first year of the tenth jubilee year, st.
He has been widely influential due to his penitential flavor of prayerful expression, particularly through his renowned and deeply introspective book of prayers. We are a warm parish located in the greater cleveland area. The importance of his writings to religion in armenia is unparalleled. A 10th century armenian monk, mystical writer and poet, gregory of narek is known especially for his book of lamentations, a book of prayers he wrote, considered to be a masterpiece of. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of.
Gregory of narek was a saint, priest, mystic, composer, astronomer, theologian and poet, honored as the first poet of armenia and revered by armenians as a watchful angel in human form. Gregory of nareks classic, the book of lamentations, the matean oghbergutean needs no introduction. An examination of the tenthcentury armenian mystic, st. Saint gregory has been depicted holding his book of prayer in a variety of artwork and a professor of psychiatry was able to develop a unique kind of therapy based on saint gregory s book of lamentations. On april 12, 1015, pope francis officially proclaimed gregory of narek as a doctor of the church. Saint gregory of narek doctor of the church book of 94 prayer book of lamentations. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The book of lamentations which he called an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations is a unique cohesion of the soul invigorating prayers that are considered to possess powers of healing and protection. Gregory did make several pilgrimages throughout the near east. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people of all stations around the world. Many of his prayers are included in the divine liturgy celebrated each sunday in armenian churches around the world.
It is perhaps the most wellknown text written in the armenian language. Several miracles and traditions have been traced back to gregory and he is known as the watchful angel in human form. Commentary on the prayers and lamentations of grigor narekatsi. Gregory of narek is considered one of the foremost figures of armenian theology and thought, and many of his prayers are included in the armenian divine liturgy. At the death of his mother, his cousin, anania of narek, who also founded the monastery and the school in narek, educated him. Grigor narekatsi book of prayer armenian literature. Gregory lived most of his life at the monastery at narek in armenia.
The book contains 91 prayers and was completed one year before he died. In the book of lamentations, narek does more than craft beautiful poem prayers. Each of nareks poems are entitled speaking with god from the depths of the heart, and the concept of speech is central to the work. For anyone dealing with pain, long term illness and dryness in prayer, you will find consolation in praying the words of st gregory of narek. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of christian literature. As he himself desired, his prayers have now become one of humanitys treasures. Revered for a thousand years, the book is so closely identified with its author that it is sometimes simply called the. Written shortly before the first millennium of christianity, the prayers of st. This is a book you can dip into time and again each time your prayer life needs a boost. He is a saint of the armenian apostolic church and was declared a doctor of he was based there almost all his life. He called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. The armenian calendar starts at 551, the year after the council of dvin.
Gregory of narek gregory of narek, grigor narekatsi on. Book of lamentations is a compendium of prayers in poetry and prose comprising 11,000 lines written in old classical armenian krapar and organized into 95 elegies divided into 366 chapters. Hildegard of bingen and juan of avila, conferred by pope. The book of prayers, or book of lamentations, is a collection of 95 poems. Gregory of narek the book of narek grigor narekatsi or krikor, grigor naregatsi, 9511003 is a canonized saint. Join us every thursday for womens bible study 11am 12pm topic.
Gregory of narek is a mystic, and his greatest contribution to the church after his sainthood and prayers, is a book of poems. Valentine prayers stewardship prayers strength prayers study prayers thanks prayers the rosary in croation the rosary in dutch the rosary in english the rosary in french the rosary in german the rosary in irishgaelic. His book of prayers is a long mystical poem in 95 sections. He examines the human condition and offers profound meditations on the nature of existence and the christian god. He is best known for his book of lamentations, a major piece of mystical literature. His earliest extant writing is a commentary on the biblical book the song of songs in 977, which is notable for its ample use of earlier greek commentators on the biblical book, particularly gregory of nyssa. Gregory of nareks monumental book of lamentations is. Gregorys masterpiece is considered to be his book of lamentations. Gregory is the first doctor of the church to have lived outside direct communion with the bishop of rome. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy. Pope francis named the tenth century armenian monk, st. Gregory of narek was a tenthcentury armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, and a theologian. A leader of the welldeveloped school of written shortly before the first millenium of christianity, the prayers of st. From the history of the relations between the churches and the.
Gregory of narek is the author of many works, his fame rests upon the book of lamentations, a collection of ninetyfive. Saint gregory of narek also called grigor narekatsi was born in the city of. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer by people of all stations around the world. Prayers inspired by gregory of narek gregory of narek 9511003 was an armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of the armenian apostolic church and catholic church. Also known as narek, it is comprised of 95 prayers, each of which is titled conversation with. Gregory of narek is remembered by the armenian church. Gregory of narek is the first new doctor of the church appointed by pope francis. Gregory of narek hits hard, and to the profit of those who will read him. He is a saint of the armenian apostolic church and was declared a doctor of the church by pope francis in 2015 the son of a bishop, narekatsi was educated by a relative based at the narekavank, the monastery of narek. Gregory is said to have worked many miracles and counseled many people. Gregory of narek english and armenian edition 9789993085317 by narekatsi, grigor.
224 986 401 676 318 536 645 326 48 215 1396 1044 772 657 991 582 290 205 1543 1374 543 1211 767 1343 8 550 785 831