Gregory of narek or grigor narekatsi was an armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of the armenian apostolic church and catholic. Alfred schnittkes concerto with original text of st. Pope francis joins catholicoi karekin ii and aram i in. Gregory of narek religionwiki fandom powered by wikia. Gregory of narek is the author of many works, his fame rests upon the book of lamentations, a collection of ninetyfive. Gregory is said to have worked many miracles and counseled many people. Pope francis and armenian patriarchs bless a bronze statue. Grigor narekatsi grigor narekatsi biography poem hunter. Shortly before the first millennium of christianity, narek monastery was a thriving center of learning. Commentary on the prayers and lamentations of grigor narekatsi. It originates from the village and monastery of narek and owns its popularity to gregory of narek and the book of lamentations, popularlily known as narek.
Hildegard of bingen and juan of avila, conferred by pope. Gregory of narek is a mystic, and his greatest contribution to the church after his sainthood and prayers, is a book of poems. Also known as narek, it is comprised of 95 prayers, each of which is titled conversation with god from the depth of the heart. Gregory is the first doctor of the church to have lived outside direct communion with the bishop of rome. Gregory of narek armenian apostolic church in richmond heights, ohio, near cleveland, was built in 1964. Gregorys masterpiece is considered to be his book of lamentations. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. In the middle ages people considered the book of lamentations or narek as healing the life and tried with its help to purify the soul, get free from sins and. Gregory of narek sourp krikor naregatzi, is a towering figure in the armenian church who is best remembered for his book of lamentations. He is a saint of the armenian apostolic church and was declared a doctor of he was based there almost all his life. Gregory of narek s classic, the book of lamentations, the matean oghbergutean needs no introduction. He is best known for his book of lamentations, a major piece of mystical literature.
Gregory of narek during a meeting saturday with cardinal angelo amato. A 10thcentury armenian monk has been named among the doctors of the church. Gregory of narek born circa 950 to a family of scholarly churchmen, st. Gregory of narek was a 10th century armenian monk, poet, and mystical writer and composer. Gregory of narek statue unveiled at the vatican massispost. Saint gregory of narek also called grigor narekatsi was born in the city of. St gregory of narek book of lamentations, grigor narekatsi c. Gregory s genius is reflected in his masterpiece book of lamentations. Gregory of narek is known for his various poetic writings, especially a book of prayers entitled book of lamentations. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer by people of all stations around the world. Scholars have compared this book of worship with davids psalms and st. Gregory of narek was a tenthcentury armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, and a theologian. He called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Written shortly before the first millennium of christianity, the prayers of st.
Gregory did make several pilgrimages throughout the near east. The book of prayers, or book of lamentations, is a collection of 95 poems. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy or lamentation. Completed towards the end of his life, circa 100203, the work has been described as a monologue, a personal lyric and confessional poem, mystical and meditative. 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 or grigor narekatsi was an armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of the armenian apostolic church and catholic church. A central theme is mans separation from god, and his quest to reunite with him. 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.
Gregory left this world in 1003, but his voice continues to speak to us. Composer alfred schnittkes concerto for mixed chorus in classical armenian version grabar was performed for the first time in vatican on april 5. From the history of the relations between the churches and the. 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 is the first new doctor of the church appointed by pope francis. Revered for a thousand years, the book is so closely identified. Gregory of narek book of lamentations prayer 1a youtube. St gregory himself defined the work as an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Gregory of narek book of lamentations prayer 95b by haik hakopian.
Book of prayers book of lamentations written shortly before the first millennium of christianity, the prayers of st. 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. Gregory of narek was an armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of the armenian apostolic church and. Gregory of narek book of lamentations prayer 95a by haik hakopian. As a result, the difficulties of earthly life would disappear. Grigor narekatsi, book of lamentations, armenian classical. 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. Pope francis and armenian patriarchs bless a bronze statue of. Grigor narekatsi author of the armenian prayer book of st. Gregory wrote a mystical interpretation of the song of songs and a long mystical poem entitled book of prayer, also known as the book of lamentations. For narekatsi, peoples absolute goal in life should be to reach to god. Gregory of narek armenian church in honor of the 10th century armenian monk who authored the book of lamentations, a masterpiece of armenian ecclesiastical literature. Abraham terian, professor emeritus of armenian patristics and theology at st. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of christian literature.
Book of lamentations by gregory of narek goodreads. A leader of the welldeveloped school of written shortly before the first millenium of christianity, the prayers of st. Gregory of narek is widely revered as one of the greatest figures of medieval armenian religious thought and literature. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of. Gregory came from a line of scholars and churchmen. Grigor narekatsi book of prayer armenian literature. I was completely unaware of their existence and was quite touched by what i began to read. Annotated translation of the odes, litanies and encomia. 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. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people of all stations around the world. Gregory of narek hits hard, and to the profit of those who will read him. Gregory of nareks classic, the book of lamentations, the matean oghbergutean needs no introduction.
Based in the monastery of narek narekavank, he was armenias first great poet. Grigor narekatsi, book of lamentations, armenian classical orthography. Gregory of narek hardcover october 15, 2005 by grigor narekatsi author, thomas j. A part of the concerto was performed by deacon hovhannes nersesyan with the mirzoyan. Gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Nersess armenian seminary will present his new book at the zohrab center on monday, march 20 at 7pm the book is entitled, the festal works of st. 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 narek book of lamentations prayer 1a haik hakopian. Gregory lived most of his life at the monastery at narek in armenia. I was completely unaware of their existence and was quite touched by. Gregory of narek was a saint, priest, mystic, composer, astronomer, theologian and poet, honored as the first poet of armenia and revered by. Gregory entered the narek monastery, a very active center of learning on lake van in modernday turkey. Liturgical mysticism and chapter 33 of the book of lamentation of st grigor narekaci, rearm 26 1996, pp.
Grigor narekatsi, book of lamentations, armenian classical orthography grigor narekatsi on. There he devoted much of his time to prayer and writing. This is the first english translation of these poetic works. It is perhaps the most wellknown text written in the armenian language. St gregory narek in the late 10th century, an elderly armenian monk determined to set down words in a book as if they were his body, the meaning of which was. The importance of his writings to religion in armenia is unparalleled. The saints the book of lamentationscommonly referred to simply as the narekis a mystical prayer poem in 95 sections, and is considered his most important work. His most wellknown literary work is a book of prayers, known as the book of lamentations. It is commonly called narek, or the prayer book, and was published in 1673 in marseille, and later translated into at least 30 languages.
Oct 15, 2002 gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Grigor narekatsi or krikor, grigor naregatsi, 9511003 is a cannonized saint. It is considered a masterpiece of armenian literature. Gregorys genius is reflected in his masterpiece book of lamentations.
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