St. Gregory of Narek

St. Gregory of Narek was a 10th-century Armenian monk, mystic, and poet whose spiritual masterpiece, Book of Lamentations, earned him the title Doctor of the Church. He is honored for his deep theology, poetic writings, and profound devotion to God through suffering.

St. Gregory of Narek, born on October 6, 951, in the historic region of Vaspurakan in Armenia, was one of the greatest mystical theologians and poets of the Christian East. He entered monastic life at a young age and was educated at the Monastery of Narek, where he spent his life as a monk, priest, and teacher.

Gregory’s most famous work, the Book of Lamentations, also known as The Narek, is a collection of 95 prayers written in poetic form. In it, he speaks to God with bold intimacy, expressing repentance, awe, longing, and deep humility. These prayers are not only theological masterpieces but also profound expressions of the human condition, yearning for union with the divine.

What makes Gregory’s work exceptional is his ability to interweave complex theological thought with raw human emotion. He speaks not only for himself but on behalf of all humanity, often describing himself as the “voice of the voiceless.” His writings are filled with themes of divine mercy, forgiveness, love, and transformation through suffering. Gregory teaches that even the deepest sorrow and sin can be a pathway to divine grace.

St. Gregory lived during a time of political instability and external threats to the Armenian people. Yet, rather than turning to political activism, he offered his countrymen a different kind of salvation—spiritual renewal through prayer, reflection, and union with God.

He died on February 27, 1003, and was buried at the monastery where he lived. Though his original tomb was destroyed centuries later, his spiritual legacy remained alive in the Armenian Church, where he has been venerated for centuries as a saint and teacher.

In 2015, Pope Francis declared Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church, an extraordinary honor, making him one of only a few saints with this title. It also marked a significant gesture of unity between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Feast Day

27-2-

Birth Date

6-10-951

Died Date

27-2-1003

Canonised Date

12-4-2015

Turkey

"Saint Gregory of Narek, pray for us. Guide us with your wisdom, strengthen our hearts with faith, and intercede for us before God. May your writings inspire our souls to seek God's mercy and grace. Amen."
ST. GREGORY OF NAREK

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ST. GREGORY OF NAREK

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