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St. Gregory of Narek
February 27, Saint


Source: stgregoryofnarek.am



Roman Martyrology: At the monastery of Narek in Armenia, the monk Saint Gregory, Doctor of the Armenians, eminent in his teaching, writing and mystical knowledge.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Gregory of Narek was an Armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholic Church, born into a family of writers. Based in the monastery of Narek (Narekavank), he was "Armenia's first great poet".

He is the author of a mystical interpretation on the Song of Songs and numerous poetic writings. 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. The book, the work of his mature years, remains one of the definitive pieces of Armenian literature.

Gregory was born c. 950 to a family of scholarly churchmen. His father, Khosrov, was an archbishop. He lost his mother very early, so he was educated by his cousin, Anania of Narek, who was the founder of the monastery and school of the village. At a young age, Gregory entered the Narek Monastery known as Narekavank on the south-east shore of Lake Van in Vaspurakan, Greater Armenia, now Turkey) and led almost all of his life in the monastery. Shortly before the first millennium of Christianity, Narek Monastery was a thriving center of learning. These were the relatively quiet, creative times before the Turkic and Mongol invasions that changed Armenian life forever. Armenia was experiencing a renaissance in literature, painting, architecture and theology, of which St. Gregory was a leading figure. Gregory also taught at the monastic school. The monastery was completely destroyed in the 20th century after the Armenian Genocide.



He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015.

 








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