Our Parish - Namesake
St. Gregory of Narek is widely revered as the greatest figure of medieval Armenian religious thought and literature. He came from a distinguished family of scholars and churchman. He was the son of Bishop Khosrov who made a major contribution to the Armenian liturgical canon with his Commentary on the Divine Liturgy. His uncle, Anania, was the abbot of the Monastery of Narek. Gregory was destined to surpass them, as was perhaps apparent to his teachers at the monastery of Narek where he quickly absorbed music, astronomy, geometry, mathematics, literature, theology, and the Bible. When Gregory graduated from the seminary he became a vardapet (doctor of the church), and began to produce the large body of works that form his inestimable contribution to the Armenian Church.
Gregory wrote discourses, poems, chants, doxologies, and a commentary on the Song of Songs at the request of the King of Armenia. Many of his works are included in the Divine Liturgy celebrated each Sunday in Armenian Churches around the world, as well as special holiday services and the other services of the hours.
His masterpiece, however, is his famous book of prayers entitled "The Book of Lamentations," containing ninety-five chapters united in their theme of "Conversations with God from the depths of the heart." The book aims to put into words the sighs of the broken and contrite heart, which as Psalm 51 teaches, is the offering acceptable to God. A new book of Psalms that encompasses the range of human frailty and emotions, the Book of Lamentations stresses the grace of God's compassion and mercy for those who confess their shortcomings and alienation from God. It seeks to guide its readers toward reconciliation with God through a series of all-embracing prayers, rich in imagery and resonating with Biblical allusions. The Book of Lamentations is venerated in the Armenian Church as having healing powers. The book is often placed under the pillow of the infirm and Prayer 18 is ascribed special healing powers.
St. Gregory of Narek is remembered by the Armenian Church in October.