Pope Francis Declares St. Gregory of Narek Doctor of the Church

Pope Francis has declared St. Gregory of Narek (Սուրբ Գրիգոր Նարեկացի), celebrated 10th century Armenian mystic and poet, a Doctor of the Universal Church. The Vatican said on February 23, 2015 that the Pope had agreed to bestow the honor on St. Gregory after the proposal made by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Cause of Saints. 

The title of Doctor of the Universal Church is one of the church’s highest honors—reserved for people whose writings have greatly served the universal church, reports the Associated Press. In all, only 35 people have been given the title over the years. Doctors of the Church include St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Teresa of Avila.

St. Gregory of Narek is widely revered as one of the greatest figures of medieval Armenian religious thought and literature. Born around 951, he came from a line of scholars and churchmen. he received his education under the guidance of his father, Bishop Khosrov, author of the earliest commentary on the Divine Liturgy, and from Anania Vartabed, abbot of Narek Monastery. He and his two brothers entered monastic life at an early age, and Gregory soon began to excel in music, astronomy, geometry, mathematics, literature, and theology.

He became a priest at the age of 25 and dedicated himself to God. He lived most of his life in the monastery of Narek, where he taught at the monastic school. St. Gregory began his writings with a commentary on the “Song of Songs,” which was commissioned by an Armenian prince. Despite his reservations that he was too young for the task, the commentary became famous for its clarity of thought and language and its excellence of theological presentation.

He also wrote a number of famous letters, hymns, treasures, odes, melodies, and discourses. Many of his prayers are included in the Divine Liturgy celebrated each Sunday in Armenian Churches around the world.

St. Gregory’s masterpiece is considered to be his Book of Lamentations. Also known as Narek, it is comprised of 95 prayers, each of which is titled “Conversation with God from the depth of the heart.” A central theme is man’s separation from God, and his quest to reunite with Him. St. Gregory described the work this way: “Its letters like my body, its message like my soul.” He called his book an “encyclopedia of prayer for all nations.” It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people all over the world.

The designation comes only a few weeks before the Pope is scheduled to celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Medz Yeghern, the Armenian genocide.