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The saints

St Gregory of Narek

An Armenian monk of the tenth century who gave words to the cry of a whole people.

Feast: 27 February · 10th century · Narek, Armenia

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A photograph of the monastery of Narek in 1911: old stone buildings and a domed church on a hillside.

Eruand Lalayean (died 1931), 1911. Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Home / The saints / St Gregory of Narek

Narek, Armenia, the 10th century

In a monastery in Armenia, a monk of the tenth century is writing prayers.1

Pope Francis said he knew how to express the sentiments of his people more than anyone.1

A thousand years later, a pope chose the hundredth anniversary of his people’s great suffering to name him a Doctor of the Church.

01St Gregory of Narek

A cry that became a prayer

Pope Francis said Gregory gave voice to the cry of a sinful and sorrowful humanity, illuminated by the splendour of God’s love.1

He proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church on 12 April 2015.1

In 2021 his optional memorial on 27 February was added to the General Roman Calendar.2

A photograph of the monastery of Narek in 1911: old stone buildings and a domed church on a hillside.
The monastery of Narek, photographed in 1911. Eruand Lalayean (died 1931), 1911. Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

Notes

  1. Pope Francis, Message to the Armenian people, 12 April 2015. Holy See, official English text. vatican.va
  2. Congregation for Divine Worship, Decree on the inscription of St Gregory of Narek, St John of Avila and St Hildegard of Bingen in the General Roman Calendar, 25 January 2021. Holy See, official English text. vatican.va

The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) is in the public domain; we quote the New Advent edition. Texts of the Holy See are quoted briefly from vatican.va. Scripture: Douay-Rheims, Challoner revision (public domain). Photographs: Wikimedia Commons, credited under each image; full list on the photo credits page.

Lines in the narrator’s voice, without a note, are our reflection, not a historical claim. Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words; our wording is not an official Church text. Report an error.