Saint Gregory of Narek

Biography

Saint Gregory of Narek, also known as Grigor Narekatsi and Gregorio di Narek, was born as Grigor, the son of Bishop Khosrov Andzevatsi, in the Kingdom of Vaspurakan, Armenia (in modern-day Turkey) around the year 950. He came from a long line of scholars and churchmen and received his education from his father and Anania Vartabed, the abbess of Narek monastery. Gregory, along with his two brothers, embraced a monastic life at a young age and excelled in various fields of knowledge, ranging from music, astronomy, geometry, mathematics, literature to theology. His intellectual pursuits and devotion to the Church led to his ordination as a priest in 977 when he was in his mid-20s. For the majority of his life, Saint Gregory resided in the Narek monastery, where he dedicated himself to teaching theology in the monastic school. Alongside his teaching role, he embarked on a prolific writing career, starting with a commission to write a commentary on the Song of Songs by an Armenian prince. This marked the beginning of a lifetime of producing letters, poems, hymns, music, and essays. The prayers composed by Saint Gregory are now an integral part of the Divine Liturgy celebrated every Sunday in Armenian Churches worldwide. His most acclaimed work is the Book of Lamentations, which explores the theme of humanity's separation from God and the search for reunion with the divine. This influential work has been translated into more than 30 languages. Regarded as one of the foremost figures in medieval Armenian religious thought and literature, Saint Gregory of Narek is considered a luminary in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Recognizing his tremendous contributions to the faith, he was declared a Doctor of the Universal Church and canonized through equipollent canonization, a recognition of his sanctity beyond the traditional process of formal investigation. Saint Gregory of Narek's life came to an end around the year 1005 when he passed away at the Narek monastery located on the southern shores of Lake Van, Armenia (in modern-day Turkey). He died from natural causes and was interred at the Narek monastery. A chapel was constructed on his tomb to honor his memory and contributions to the Church. Unfortunately, in the mid-20th century, the Narek monastery and the chapel were destroyed by Turkish authorities, who subsequently built a mosque over the site. Despite this, Saint Gregory's legacy lives on through his writings and the profound impact he has had on Armenian Christian spirituality. It was on 12 April 2015, at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy, that Pope Francis proclaimed Saint Gregory of Narek as a Doctor of the Universal Church, affirming his significance and influence within the broader Catholic tradition. Though he does not possess a specific patronage, his teachings and writings continue to inspire countless individuals in their spiritual journeys.