St gregory of narek book of lamentations study

We have referred several times to his commentary on the song of songs, which dr. Gregory of narek armenian apostolic church in richmond heights. Piecing together the words of a saint the armenian. In the middle ages people considered the book of lamentations or narek as healing the life and tried with its help to purify the soul, get free from sins and access to perfection. Alfred schnittkes concerto with original text of st. It is not among the most popular old testament books, but it repays careful study. Gregory of narek is a mystic, and his greatest contribution to the church after his sainthood and prayers, is a book of poems. Gregory of nareks book of lamentation into the vernacular from the rare text of the classical armenian, published in 1858, is also included. I was completely unaware of their existence and was quite touched by what i began to read. Gregory lived most of his life at the monastery at narek in armenia. The basic theme of the book is a lament over the terrible woes which have befallen sinful judah and the destruction of the holy city and the temple of god.

Oct 15, 2002 gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. This golden age of the armenian civilization is personified by gregory of narek priest and poet, theologian and philosopher, monk and mystic. Pdf book of lamentation matean olbergutean has been presented by specialists as a literary asteroid that fell from the sky into armenian. Gregory did make several pilgrimages throughout the near east. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. May 31, 2018 potsdam, germany a revolutionary technology developed in germany has made it possible to reconstruct an early version of saint gregory of nareks book of prayers or lamentations, conserved in the matenadaran in yerevan. Nersess armenian seminary devoted to theological inquiry in the service of the armenian church st. Grigor narekatsi or krikor, grigor naregatsi, 9511003 is a cannonized saint. His writings include a commentary on the song of songs also known as the song of solomon or the canticles, and his book of lamentations, also. Book of lamentations, you can find around ten translations, the list of. The book of lamentations was written soon after the fall of jerusalem in 586 b.

St gregory himself defined the work as an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Grigor narekatsi, book of lamentations, armenian classical orthography grigor narekatsi on. Grigor narekatsi book of prayer armenian literature. A leader of the welldeveloped school of written shortly before the first millenium of christianity, the prayers of st.

Gregory of nareks classic, the book of lamentations, the. The conference was the second international symposium organized in recent years to commemorate the millennium of st. Latvian orthodox church male choir logos performed a choral composition book of lamentations based on 10th century armenian monk, philosopher and poet st. Revered for a thousand years, the book is so closely identified. Gregory of narek was a 10th century armenian monk, poet, and mystical writer and composer. Two days ago the presentation of the latvian translation of gregory of nareks book of lamentations took place, followed by a photo exhibition of. Saint gregory of narek also called grigor narekatsi was born in the city of. George armenian church, hartford, connecticut on saturday, november 22, 2003, at 2. Findikyan lectures at international narek conference in. On april 12, 1015, pope francis officially proclaimed gregory of narek as a doctor of the church. It is perhaps the most wellknown text written in the armenian language. Mystic soliloquies with god hardcover january 1, 1977 by grigor author 5.

Shortly before the first millennium of christianity, narek monastery was a thriving center of learning. In it the penitent is made aware of the total otherness of god and of humanitys utter dependence on god, who is the source of all reality. Saint gregory narekatzi, also called gregory of narek, born 951died 1003. Gregory of narek is widely revered as one of the greatest figures of medieval armenian religious thought and literature. Gregory of narek s classic, the book of lamentations, the matean oghbergutean needs no introduction.

There he devoted much of his time to prayer and writing. He is best known for his book of lamentations, a major piece of mystical. Gregory of narek is the author of many works, his fame rests upon the book of lamentations, a collection of ninetyfive. A systematic presentation of the essentials of eastern orthodoxy orthodox church in america. In the middle ages people considered the book of lamentations or narek as healing the life and tried with its help to purify the soul, get free from sins and. Gregory of nareks book of lamentations has several. Gregory of narek book of lamentations prayer 1a haik hakopian. He was an armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher and theologian, born into a family of writers. Grigor narekatsi, book of lamentations, armenian classical orthography. Roberta ervine, associate professor of armenian studies at st. Nersess seminary, and features dramatic recreations of gregory and his world. Gregory of narek armenian church in honor of the 10th century armenian monk who authored the book of lamentations, a masterpiece of armenian ecclesiastical literature.

Saint gregory of narek also called grigor narekatsi was born in the city of narek in presentday turkey in 951. Pdf book of lamentation matean olbergutean has been presented. See 2 kgs 25 for a prose account of the fall of jerusalem. Nersess armenian seminary in new rochelle, ny, will be the featured speaker at st. Gregory entered narek monastery on the southeast shore of lake van at a young age. The book of prayers, or book of lamentations, is a collection of 95 poems. Best known for book of lamentations or book of prayer. Gregory of narek will be of greatest interest to scholars in the fields of religion, history, and literature. Gregory of narek sourp krikor naregatzi, is a towering figure in the armenian church who is best remembered for his book of lamentations. Gregory of narek book of lamentations prayer 2c youtube.

Gregory of nareks masterpiece,prayer book of lamentations in. Although the poems are traditionally ascribed to the prophet jeremiah. Gregory s major work, the book of lamentation, popularly known as narek, is a prayer book still much venerated. Piecing together the words of a saint the armenian mirror. He is a saint of the armenian apostolic church and was declared a doctor of the church by pope francis in 2015 the son of a bishop, narekatsi was educated by a relative based at the narekavank, the monastery of narek. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of christian literature. The lamentations are the expression of a heart full of love for the earthly people of jehovah, a people punished for their sins by loosing their kingdom, their land, their city and their sanctuary. He called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. I had just seen reference made to gregory of narek in another book i was reading i had never heard of him and bought this book out of. 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.

Jeremiah considers himself as part of these people but thereby repents and puts his hope in spite of all mourning in god. His father, khosrov antsevatsi, served as a bishop and theologian of the armenian church. Indeed, this book is often known simply as narek, and it traditionally held a place in the armenian household hardly less honourable than that of the bible. Scholars have compared this book of worship with davids psalms and st. Gregory was declared a doctor of the universal church by pope francis in 2015.

While the first complete commentary was published in constantinople in. Composer alfred schnittkes concerto for mixed chorus in classical armenian version grabar was performed for the first time in vatican on april 5. His most wellknown literary work is a book of prayers, known as the book of lamentations. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or matean voghbergutyan literally book of tragedy or lamentation.

Illustration from the oldest extant copy of the book of lamentations. Gregory of narek book of lamentations prayer 95b by haik hakopian. The book of lamentations, a long mystical poem in 95 sections written by saint gregory of the monastery of narek 9511003 ad, is familiar to virtually all armenians, yet few can say they fully understand this piece of literature that uses old armenian, grabar. A major prose work was commentary on the song of songs. Gregory of nareks book of lamentations, noting that st. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits literally, book of prayer or. Gregory of narek the book of narek grigor narekatsi or krikor, grigor naregatsi, 9511003 is a canonized saint. It was his hope that it would serve as a guide to prayer for people of all stations around the world. Gregory of nareks classic, the book of lamentations, the matean oghbergutean needs no introduction. It was there that he wrote his masterpiece of spiritual poetry, known as the book of lamentations or narek. The work is a manuscript dating back to the th14th century, and is one of the earliest copies of the 10th. Saint gregory has been depicted holding his book of prayer in a variety of artwork and a professor of psychiatry was able to develop a unique kind of therapy based on saint gregory s book of lamentations.

Gregory received his education under the guidance of his father, bishop khosrov, author of the earliest commentary. Gregory s genius is reflected in his masterpiece book of lamentations. Like samuelians translation, however, it too is a book that should capture the interest of poets and general readers seeking deep spiritual reading for reflection. Book of prayers book of lamentations written shortly before the first millennium of christianity, the prayers of st. Book of prayer is known in armenian as girk aghotits. It is commonly called narek, or the prayer book, and was published in 1673 in marseille, and later translated into at least 30 languages. Potsdam, germany a revolutionary technology developed in germany has made it possible to reconstruct an early version of saint gregory of narek s book of prayers or lamentations, conserved in the matenadaran in yerevan.

He became a priest at the age of 25 and lived almost all of his life in the monastery of narek where he taught at the monastic school. There are a number of helpful commentaries on this book, and the following are five of the best. 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. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Findikyan, who was the only speaker from the united states, gave a lecture entitled, another holy communion. Title lamentations was derived from a translation of the title as found in the latin vulgate vg. Commentary on the prayers and lamentations of grigor. The work is a manuscript dating back to the th14th century, and is one of the earliest copies of the 10th century original, which has been lost. Gregory came from a line of scholars and churchmen.

He was renowned for his mystical poems and hymns, biblical commentaries, and sacred elegies. Healing power was attributed to the book, its authors name was sanctified and it was believed to. The great armenian mystical poet and his prayer book of lamentations the orthodox faith. Book of lamentations read, study bible verses online.

Grigor narekatsi author of the armenian prayer book of st. His earliest extant writing is a commentary on the biblical book the song of songs in 977, which is notable for its ample use of earlier greek commentators on the biblical book, particularly gregory of nyssa. The piece was authored by young composer janis kirsis, armenias ambassador to latvia, lithuania and estonia tigran mkrtchyan informs. A part of the concerto was performed by deacon hovhannes nersesyan with the mirzoyan quartet, armenpress. Gregory of narek is known for his various poetic writings, especially a book of prayers entitled book of lamentations.

It is considered a masterpiece of armenian literature. Saint gregory of narek, an extraordinary interpreter of the human soul, offers words which are prophetic for us. Jun 30, 2016 translated and annotated by abraham tertian, the festal works of st. 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. Julian old and gregorian new calendars are treated after the new calendar was adopted in 1923 by the armenian church. Gregory called his book an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations. Lamentations with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Each chapter, however, does not stand on its own, but falls into a series making the book one complete, progressive thought. Gregory of narek have long been recognized as gems of.

Gregory is said to have worked many miracles and counseled many people. I willingly blame myself with myriad accounts of all the incurable sins, from our first forefather through the end of his generations in all eternity, i charge myself with all these voluntarily book of lamentations, lxxii. Gregory of narek book of lamentations prayer 95a by haik hakopian. Gregory of narek or grigor narekatsi was an armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of the armenian apostolic church and catholic church. Gregory of narek born circa 950 to a family of scholarly churchmen, st. After that i plan to devote myself to this longer commentary on the book of lamentations.

This summary of the book of lamentations provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of lamentations. Gregory of nareks prized works, his book of prayers and lamentations, gave way to multiple publications. As a result, the difficulties of earthly life would disappear. The book of lamentations is a collection of five poems that serve as an anguished response to the destruction of jerusalem in 587 b. Mesrops interview to armenia tvs zham show, june 16, 2019. Beginning each prayer with the incantation speaking with god from the depths of the heart, he referred to himself as a living book prayer 39b and to his book as a compendium of. Commentary on the prayers and lamentations of grigor narekatsi. Lament 1 jerusalems plight the prophet bewails it 111 the city. For narekatsi, peoples absolute goal in life should be to reach to god. Join us every thursday for womens bible study 11am 12pm topic. Gregory was born about 950 to a family dedicated to the church. Gregory of narek 9511003 set out, with much trepidation, on a sublime mission to translate the pure sighs of the broken and contrite heart 1 into an offering of words pleasing to god. His lifetime coincided with a kind of armenian golden age, a cultural renaissance when learning, art. The importance of his writings to religion in armenia is unparalleled.