Gregory of Narek

Grigor Narekatsi, anglicized as Gregory of Narek, was an Armenian mystical and lyrical poet, monk and theologian who lived from about 950 to 1003 or 1011. He is venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015. The son of a bishop, he was educated, ordained and later stationed at Narekavank on the southern shores of Lake Van, in modern Turkey, and scholars consider him the most beloved and significant theological and literary figure of the Armenian religious tradition. He is best known for his Book of Lamentations, a major work of mystical literature that serves as a confessional prayer book in many Armenian religious households, and his works have inspired Armenian literary figures and influenced Armenian literature throughout the ages.