POPE FRANCIS WILL FORMALLY PROCLAIM ST. GREGORY OF NAREK ‘DOCTOR OF CHURCH’ ON APRIL 12
09:46, 02 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Pope Francis formally will proclaim a 10th-century Armenian monk as
a doctor of the church when he celebrates a liturgy April 12 with
leaders and faithful of the Armenian Catholic Church, Catholic News
Service reports.
The Vatican had announced in February the pope’s decision to confer
the title “doctor of the church” on St. Gregory of Narek. The title
indicates that the saint’s writings are considered to offer key
theological insights for the faith.
Earlier, the Vatican had announced that the pope would celebrate
a liturgy April 12 with members of the Armenian community, who are
preparing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide
April 24.
Pope Francis will concelebrate the liturgy with Armenian Catholic
Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, the Vatican said.
St. Gregory of Narek is considered one of the leading figures of
Armenian theology and thought, and many of his prayers are included
in the Armenian Divine Liturgy.
He was born in 950 in the Armenian town of Andzevatsik, located in
present-day Turkey. He entered a monastery at a young age and was
ordained a priest at 25. He lived at the monastery at Narek his whole
priestly life and taught at the monastic school.
His best-known writings include a commentary on the Song of Songs
and his “Book of Lamentations,” now commonly known as “Narek.”
“Narek” is considered his masterpiece. It includes 95 prayers and
has been translated into more than 30 languages.
St. Gregory died in Narek around 1005. His feast day in the Armenian
churches is Oct. 13; he is remembered in the Roman Catholic Church
Feb. 27.
Designating him a doctor of the church, Pope Francis will bring to
36 the number of saintly theologians to hold the title.