Photograph your local culture, help wikipedia and win. Prayers inspired by gregory of narek presbyterian church. Commentary on the prayers and lamentations of grigor narekatsi. Gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Gregory of narek english and armenian edition 9789993085317 by narekatsi, grigor. Gregory of narek was venerated as a saint by the armenian catholic church and is also recognized as a saint of the roman catholic church. I can open the book and read any prayer and love it. The 95 lamentations are grouped together, mirroring the different stages of the liturgy, from the dismissal of the catechumens, the profession of faith and communion to the final prayers in preparation of death and judgment. Saint of the day 27 february st gregory of narekdoctor. There he devoted much of his time to prayer and writing. A leader of the welldeveloped school of written shortly before the first millenium of christianity, the prayers of st. At the death of his mother, his cousin, anania of narek, who also founded the monastery and the school in narek, educated him.
Written in his later years, he said that the book was his last testament its letters like my body, its message. The book contains 91 prayers and was completed one year before he died. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Gregory of narek, also known as the book of lamentations, have long been recognized as gems of christian literature. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people of all stations around the world. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of. His father, khosrov antsevatsi, served as a bishop and theologian of the armenian church. Mar 04, 2015 pope francis named the tenth century armenian monk, st. Gregory of narek was a tenthcentury armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, and a theologian. He is a saint of the armenian apostolic church and. Gregorys festal odes, book of prayers and writings of. His book of prayers is a long mystical poem in 95 sections. Gregory, prayer was powerful medicine for the body and soul prayer 28f, 35a, 42b, 43b.
Oct 15, 2002 gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Like the world around him, his body was collapsing, while he was besieged by doubt from within and criticism from without. Exploring tools for prayer the eastern prelacy of the. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer by people of all stations around the world. Lord, may thy loving favour rest upon us and prosper all the work we undertake. Written shortly before the first millenium of christianity, the prayers of st. Gregory of narek hits hard, and to the profit of those who will read him. Gregory of narek is a mystic, and his greatest contribution to the church after his sainthood and prayers, is a book of poems. The prayers of saint gregory of narek have brought forth miracles and healing in the armenian church. From the book of hourly prayers of the armenian apostolic church sunrise service. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people all over the world.
Gregory lived most of his life at the monastery at narek in armenia. The armenian calendar starts at 551, the year after the council of dvin. St gregory himself defined the work as an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Grigor narekatsi author of the armenian prayer book of st. Gregory is said to have worked many miracles and counseled many people. Pope francis and armenian patriarchs bless a bronze statue of. But in the ave maria, the theotokia, the hymns of st. Gregory entered the narek monastery, a very active center of learning on lake van in modernday turkey.
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. Grigor narekatsi book of prayer armenian literature. But his comment and our tradition are based neither on the hebrew scriptures nor on the present reading of the septuagint, but on the ancient armenian version of the bible, which reads. He is a saint of the armenian apostolic church and was declared a doctor of the church by pope francis in 2015. Since this is the first year of the tenth jubilee year, st. He believed that the armenian church had a special mission and hoped that his book would help deliver that message. Let us in peace eat this food which the lord hath provided for us. 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. Saint gregory first laments for at least 3 prayers listed as abc then the last prayer d is all thanksgiving. Gregory of narek encouraged the development of classical armenian as a literary language. Gregory was born about 950 to a family dedicated to the church. On april 12, 1015, pope francis officially proclaimed gregory of narek as a doctor of the church. Gregory of narek has been serving the armenian community in ohio for. Gregorys book of prayer is also sometimes called the book of.
So powerfully have these prayers cried out to the armenian faithful that for. 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. Pope francis named the tenth century armenian monk, st. Common prayers of the armenian church our lords prayer. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy. It is considered a masterpiece of armenian literature. 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.
Here published as a facsimile of an earlier printing in the original classical armenian. Among the several works for which st gregory is famous is his book of prayer, called speaking with god from the depths of the heart by a contemporary english translation, 1 but also known closer to its armenian original as the book of lamentations or of tragedy. Pope francis and armenian patriarchs bless a bronze statue. Several miracles and traditions have been traced back to gregory and he is known as the watchful angel in human form. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. For anyone dealing with pain, long term illness and dryness in prayer, you will find consolation in praying the words of st gregory of narek. With armenians it is probably the second most common book readowned. This is a book you can dip into time and again each time your prayer life needs a boost.
We are a warm parish located in the greater cleveland area. His most wellknown literary work is a book of prayers, known as the book of lamentations. He described it an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Saint gregory of narek also called grigor narekatsi was born in the city of narek. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of christian literature. Samuelian, thomas and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. As the world observed the 100th anniversary of the armenian genocide in the ottoman empire, pope francis concelebrated a mass at the vatican with patriarch nerses bedros xix tarmouni and declared this monk, poet, and saint of the armenian apostolic church a doctor of the church.
Saint of the day 27 february st gregory of narekdoctor of. Gregory of narek, the marginal doctor word on fire. The book, the work of his mature years, remains one of the definitive pieces of armenian literature. The importance of his writings to religion in armenia is unparalleled. Gregory of narek, the tradition of prayer is basically the same. Gregory of narek is remembered by the armenian church. This golden age of the armenian civilization is personified by gregory of narek priest and poet, theologian and philosopher, monk and mystic. You can find these prayers online but there is nothing like holding a prayer book of this magnitude in your hands.
The book of prayers, or book of lamentations, is a collection of 95 poems. In prayer at church, we unite our concerns and ourselves to the prayer of the whole church, to the eternal prayer of christ, the holy mother of god, the saints, and the brothers and sisters of our own church community. 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. Prayers inspired by gregory of narek gregory of narek 9511003 was an armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of the armenian apostolic church and catholic church. Nersess armenian spirituality series is an undertaking of the seminary faculty. Gregory of narek the book of narek grigor narekatsi or krikor, grigor naregatsi, 9511003 is a canonized saint. Gregory of datev, has as precedent the wailing over jacobisrael. He called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations.
Speaking with god from the depths of the heart religion. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy or lamentation. I was completely unaware of their existence and was quite touched by what i began to read. Gregory is known as armenias first great poet for his creation of the prayer book or book of consolations. Prayers, sermons and spiritual reflections by the great saints and teachers of the armenian church are presented in english translation with brief introductions.
Saint gregory of narek doctor of the church book of 94 prayer book of lamentations. After the advent of movable type, the book was published in marseille in 1673, and has been translated into at least 30 languages. Hes a poet to the core, and demonstrated amply, like the hebrew prophets, that beauty is the truest form of divine discourse. As he himself desired, his prayers have now become one of humanitys treasures. Written shortly before the first millennium of christianity, the prayers of st.