Saint Gregory of Narek
Armenian monk-poet, author of the Book of Lamentations, Doctor of the Church
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Doctor of the Church, Mystic, Religious
- Life
- 950 – 1005
- Era
- 11th century
- Feast
- 27 February
- Countries
- Armenia, Türkiye
Life story
He was born around 950 (sources range from 945 to 951) in the region of Vaspurakan, in what is now eastern Turkey. Traditional biographies say he was raised and educated at Narek monastery on the southern shore of Lake Van, which had a well-known school in the kingdom of Vaspurakan. He became a monk and priest and spent most of his life there in prayer, teaching and writing.
His works include a commentary on the Song of Songs completed in 977, panegyrics and hymns, and above all the Book of Lamentations, also called Narek, written around 1002–1003. It consists of 95 poetic prayers in classical Armenian, running to more than ten thousand lines, in an image-rich and self-questioning style. In Armenian culture the book has been read and copied for centuries and has been translated into many languages.
He died in the early eleventh century; sources give a year between 1003 and 1011. The Armenian Church venerates him as a saint; the date of any formal recognition is unknown, but he was already called a saint by 1173. The Catholic Church added him to the Roman Martyrology in 2001 with a memorial on 27 February. On 12 April 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church, the first Armenian to hold the title. Because contemporary evidence is limited, many details of his personal life cannot be established with certainty.
Works and witness
- Monk and priest at Narek monastery in Vaspurakan
- Wrote a commentary on the Song of Songs in 977
- Composed the Book of Lamentations around 1002–1003, 95 poetic prayers
- Venerated as a saint in Armenia; added to the Roman Martyrology in 2001
- Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015
Saints from the same country
References
- Gregory of Narek, Book of Lamentations (Matean oghbergut'yan)
- Martyrologium Romanum (2001)
- Pope Francis, proclamation of Gregory of Narek as Doctor of the Church, 12 April 2015 (Vatican)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.