CURRICULUM VITAE
He hailed from the historical region of Andzevatsik in Greater Armenia, where he resided in the Narek Monastery at the end of the 1st millennium. His works reflect his renowned scholarship and mystical experience. He taught at a monastery school, became abbot, and dedicated his life to the Virgin Mary. On 12 April 2015, Pope Francis declared him a “Doctor of the Universal Church” in an apostolic letter.
CV FOR MEDITATION
TEACHER OF THE ART OF TALKING TO GOD
He was born around 944 in Yemişlik, a village on the outskirts of Elazığ, Turkey, which was then part of Armenia. After losing his mother at an early age, his father, Khosrow (who would later become an archbishop), chose a spiritual path. He entrusted the care of his two sons, John and Gregory, to their mother’s relative, Ananias, who founded a school in Narek and became abbot of a monastery on Lake Van (formerly Armenia, now Turkey). Gregory excelled in piety and zealously pursued his studies. He became a monk, received priestly ordination, and worked as a teacher.
Following Ananias’s death, Gregory was elected abbot. He also influenced the reform of monastic life in other monasteries. He paid particular attention to ensuring that the monastic rules were observed. He was a natural role model himself. He demonstrated his wisdom through his theological writings, becoming one of the most important poets in Armenian literature..
Gregory of Narek made a significant contribution to Armenian Christian culture through his musical and theological works. His most famous work is the ‘Book of Lamentations’. Consisting of 95 chapters of poetic prayers, this work is sometimes referred to as the ‘Book of Lamentations’ or, less frequently, ‘Narek’. In it, Gregory expressed his desire for the prayers to convey his words after his death, so that the book would resonate instead of his voice. The book has been translated into more than 30 languages. It stands out for a prayer called ‘From the Depths of the Heart, a Conversation with the Mother of God’ — according to tradition, he received a revelation from her. Gregory also composed hymns for liturgical feasts. All of his poetry is imbued with biblical themes to such an extent that it is considered a form of sublime theology.
The date of Gregory’s death was previously thought to be 7 October 1003; however, in this century, the year 1005 is given. On 12 April 2015, Pope Francis granted him the title of ‘Doctor of the Universal Church’ at the suggestion of the cardinals. The ecumenical significance of this award in recognising the Armenian Church’s fidelity to the Gospel was also mentioned. The Armenian Church celebrates Gregory’s memory on 13 October, and the Pope entered this date into the general Roman calendar as non-binding (or optional) on 27 February 2021.
RESOLUTION, PRAYER
