The Armenian monk Gregory Narek (Grigor Narekatsi), whose life spanned the border between the 10th and 11th centuries (ca. 950 – 1003) was enrolled amongst the elite Doctors of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015. His memorial on this day was only promulgated a few weeks ago, so this is the first time we celebrate the saint in the public, liturgical calendar.
His life was externally uneventful – raised in a pious household on the shore of Lake Van (now in modern Turkey), as a young man he joined the monastery of Narekavank not far from his home, and spent the rest of his life in prayer, good works and contemplation – the fruit of the last being his most famous work, and perhaps the greatest work of Armenian literature, The Book of Lamentations, a mystical treatise of 95 chapters and 10,000 lines, difficult to put into one category – a theological meditation and introspection, perhaps, along the lines of Augustine’s Confessions. It is said that every household in Armenia once had one – and perhaps still does – to which even miraculous healing properties were ascribed. Gregory also wrote other works, including a commentary on the Song of Songs, and numerous homilies, hymns and panegyrics. He held to the doctrine of the perpetual virginity, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of Our Lady – the latter two defined in the 19th and 20th centuries.
It has been said that Saint Gregory downplayed the need for the institutional Church, emphasizing more the relation of the individual soul to God. I suppose each Doctor has his particular focus – Augustine, of grace, and so on. But Gregory never denied the need for the Church, and was orthodox. As well, at the end of the day, and the end of our lives, the Church was founded as a means to the end of the salvation of each soul, created by God for eternal glory – and our own focus on that unfailing promise should help us see our way through these current travails.
Saint Gregory Narek, ora pro nobis!
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