It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people of all stations around the world. The book contains 91 prayers and was completed one year before he died. He is best known for his book of lamentations, a major piece of mystical literature. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of christian literature. Gregory of narek hits hard, and to the profit of those who will read him. This is a book you can dip into time and again each time your prayer life needs a boost. Prayers inspired by gregory of narek presbyterian church. In the book of lamentations, narek does more than craft beautiful poem prayers. 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. 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. He is the author of a mystical interpretation on the song of songs and numerous poetic writings. Gregory lived most of his life at the monastery at narek in armenia.
Commentary on the prayers and lamentations of grigor narekatsi. It is perhaps the most wellknown text written in the armenian language. A professor of philosophy at berry college in georgia, he has produced a book that introduces this great saint to the world beyond armenia. There he devoted much of his time to prayer and writing. He examines the human condition and offers profound meditations on the nature of existence and the christian god. 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. Samuelian, thomas and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Saint gregory of narek doctor of the church book of 94 prayer book of lamentations. 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. Gregory of nareks monumental book of lamentations is.
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. He called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Revered for a thousand years, the book is so closely identified with its author that it is sometimes simply called the. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of. Grigor narekatsi grigor narekatsi biography poem hunter. He is a saint of the armenian apostolic church and was declared a doctor of he was based there almost all his life. Grigor narekatsi author of the armenian prayer book of st. It appears that grigor narekatsi is a man of many talents.
A new book by professor of philosophy michael papazian will introduce the world to armenian monk gregory of narek. 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 of narek the book of narek grigor narekatsi or krikor, grigor naregatsi, 9511003 is a canonized saint. 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. Gregorys masterpiece is considered to be his book of lamentations. Gregory of narek 9451003 is one the most revered saints of the armenian church. Grigor narekatsi book of prayer armenian literature. Gregory did make several pilgrimages throughout the near east. Gregory of narek gregory of narek, grigor narekatsi on. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy. Several miracles and traditions have been traced back to gregory and he is known as the watchful angel in human form. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Gregory of narek has been serving the armenian community in ohio for. Hildegard of bingen and juan of avila, conferred by pope. From the history of the relations between the churches and the. New book to introduce armenian saint gregory of narek to. Pope francis named the tenth century armenian monk, st. On april 12, 1015, pope francis officially proclaimed gregory of narek as a doctor of the church. As he himself desired, his prayers have now become one of humanitys treasures.
Gregory of narek, the marginal doctor word on fire. Join us every thursday for womens bible study 11am 12pm topic. Gregory of narek is the first new doctor of the church appointed by pope francis. After the advent of movable type, the book was published in marseille in 1673, and has been translated into at least 30 languages. His book of prayers is a long mystical poem in 95 sections. Also known as narek, it is comprised of 95 prayers, each of which is titled conversation with. I was completely unaware of their existence and was quite touched by what i began to read. 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. Many of his prayers are included in the divine liturgy celebrated each sunday in armenian churches around the world. The book of prayers, or book of lamentations, is a collection of 95 poems. Gregory of narek is the author of many works, his fame rests upon the book of lamentations, a collection of ninetyfive. An examination of the tenthcentury armenian mystic, st. He is best known for his book of lamentations, a major piece of mystical.
Gregory of narek was a tenthcentury armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, and a theologian. He has been widely influential due to his penitential flavor of prayerful expression, particularly through his renowned and deeply introspective book of prayers. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy or lamentation. At the death of his mother, his cousin, anania of narek, who also founded the monastery and the school in narek, educated him. Gregory of narek is remembered by the armenian church. Written shortly before the first millennium of christianity, the prayers of st. Based in the monastery of narek narekavank, he was armenias first great poet.
The importance of his writings to religion in armenia is unparalleled. Gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Gregory is said to have worked many miracles and counseled many people. As the world observed the 100th anniversary of the armenian genocide in the ottoman empire, pope francis concelebrated a mass at the vatican with patriarch nerses bedros xix tarmouni and declared this monk, poet, and saint of the armenian apostolic church a doctor 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 narek armenian apostolic church in richmond heights, ohio. 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. 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. Gregory is the first doctor of the church to have lived outside direct communion with the bishop of rome. St gregory of narek book of lamentations, grigor narekatsi c. 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. Gregory of narek is a mystic, and his greatest contribution to the church after his sainthood and prayers, is a book of poems. Gregory of nareks classic, the book of lamentations, the matean oghbergutean needs no introduction. We are a warm parish located in the greater cleveland area. 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. A leader of the welldeveloped school of written shortly before the first millenium of christianity, the prayers of st.
Joe speaks fluent modern armenian and reads the old classical armenian literature. Hes a poet to the core, and demonstrated amply, like the hebrew prophets, that beauty is the truest form of divine discourse. Saint gregory of narek also called grigor narekatsi was born in the city of. The armenian calendar starts at 551, the year after the council of dvin. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer by people of all stations around the world. He has also gained the popularity of those outside the armenian tradition. I actually found it for free elsewhere, but just had to buy a copy for my private prayers because of the good that gregory fills me with in these prayers. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people all over the world. Gregory of narek english and armenian edition 9789993085317 by narekatsi, grigor. 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. 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. Since this is the first year of the tenth jubilee year, st.
191 955 1343 588 1267 1180 1199 1181 304 987 936 31 907 489 1187 1213 1492 689 392 993 1252 1160 1438 78 607 1045 1202 2 826 53 114 1444