Gregory of Narek

File:Narekavank.jpg), seen here circa 1900. His chapel-mausoleum was located inside the monastery walls before it was destroyed in the mid-20th century.]]

Scholars place Gregory's birth and death dates circa 945–951 and 1003 or 1010–11, respectively.{{efn|His birth has been placed in the "middle of the tenth century",{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=231}} "the second half of 940s", 945,{{sfn|La Porta|2016|pp=336–337}} c. 945,{{sfn|Nersessian|2018|p=240}} c. 950, c. 951,{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|pp=274–275}} and his death date in 1003,{{sfn|La Porta|2016|pp=336–337}} c. 1003,{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|pp=274–275}}{{sfn|Nersessian|2018|p=240}} 1003 or 1011,

"probably in 1010".{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=231}} Hrachia Acharian suggested that he lived 53 years. }} He lived in the Kingdom of Vaspurakan, a medieval Armenian kingdom, which is "notable for the high cultural level that it achieved."{{cite book|last=Hewsen|first=Robert H.|author-link=Robert H. Hewsen|title=Armenia: A Historical Atlas|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2001|isbn=0-226-33228-4|page=95}} Vaspurakan, centered around Lake Van, is a region described by Richard Hovannisian as "the cradle of Armenian civilization".{{cite book |last1=Hovannisian |first1=Richard G. |author1-link=Richard G. Hovannisian |editor1-last=Hovannisian |editor1-first=Richard G. |title=Armenian Van/Vaspurakan |date=2000 |publisher=Mazda Publishers |location=Costa Mesa, California |isbn=1-56859-130-6 |chapter=An Introduction}}

Little is known about his life. He was born in a village on the southern shores of Lake Van, in what is now eastern Turkey, to Khosrov Andzevatsi, a relative of the Artsruni royal family.{{sfn|Papazian|2019|p=56}} His mother died when he was little. Khosrov was ordained a bishop after being widowed and was appointed primate of the diocese of Andzevatsik.{{sfn|Papazian|2019|pp=59–60}} His father was suspected of pro-Byzantine Chalcedonian beliefs, a doctrine not accepted by the Armenian Apostolic Church,{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=231}} and was eventually excommunicated by Catholicos Anania Mokatsi for undermining the Armenian Church with his interpretation of the rank of Catholicos, the highest rank in Armenian church clergy, as being equivalent to that of a bishop, a lower rank in Christian churches, based on the works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, a fifth-century Greek Christian theologian and mysticist.{{sfn|La Porta|2016|pp=343–344}} Grigor and his elder brother Hovhannes were sent to the Narekavank (lit. the monastery of Narek), where he was given religious education by Anania Narekatsi (Ananias of Narek). The latter was his maternal great-uncle, a celebrated scholar and the monastery's founder. Being raised in an intellectual and religious fervor, Grigor was ordained priest in 977 and taught others theology at the monastery school until his death.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|pp=274–275}}{{sfn|Thomson|1983|p=453}}

Whether Gregory led a secluded life has become a debate among Armenian scholars. Both literary critic Arshag Chobanian and scholar Manuk Abeghian believe he did. In contrast, literary critic {{Interlanguage link|Hrant Tamrazyan|hy|Հրանտ Թամրազյան}} argued that Gregory was very well aware of the secular world and his time, had a deep knowledge of both peasants and princes and the complexities of the world. Tamrazyan believes he could not have lived solely on literary ecstasy.{{sfn|Avagyan|2017|p=119}}

Gregory was buried inside the walls of the monastery of Narek. A rectangular-shaped chapel-mausoleum was built on his tomb, which survived until the mid-20th century, when the monastery, abandoned in the aftermath of the Armenian genocide, was destroyed by the Turkish authorities, and later replaced with a mosque.{{cite news|last=Suciyan |first=Talin |title=Holy Cross survives, diplomacy dies |url=http://www.reporter.am/pdfs/A0407.pdf |issue=6 |newspaper=The Armenian Reporter |date=7 April 2007 |page=A7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207212544/http://www.reporter.am/pdfs/A0407.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2014 }}{{cite book|author-link=Sevan Nişanyan|first=Sevan|last=Nişanyan|title=Eastern Turkey: A Travellers Handbook|isbn=978-975-23-0196-2|location=Istanbul|publisher=Boyut Yayin Grubu|year=2006|page=239}}{{cite book|first=Nairy|last=Hampikian|contribution=The Architectural Heritage of Vaspurakan|editor=Hovannisian, Richard G.|title=Armenian Van/Vaspurakan|location=Costa Mesa, California|publisher=Mazda Publishers|year=2000|isbn=978-1-56859-130-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/armenianvanvaspu00rich/page/103 103]|url=https://archive.org/details/armenianvanvaspu00rich/page/103}}

{{anchor|Book of Lamentations}} {{anchor|Narek}} {{anchor|Մատեան ողբերգութեան}} {{anchor|Matean oghbergut'ean}} {{anchor|Նարեկ}}

File:Narek Matenadaran manuscript.jpg

The Book of Lamentations (Classical Armenian: {{Lang|xcl|Մատեան ողբերգութեան}}, {{Transliteration|xcl|Matean oghbergut'ean}}) is widely considered Gregory's masterpiece. It is often simply called Narek ({{Lang|xcl|Նարեկ}}). Completed towards the end of his life, {{circa|1002–03}},{{sfn|Thomson|1983|p=453}}{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=277}} the work has been described as a monologue, a personal lyric and confessional poem, mystical and meditative. It comprises 95 chapters and over 10,000 lines. Almost all chapters (except two) are titled "Words unto God from the Depths of My Heart".{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=277}} The chapters, which are prayers or elegies, vary in length, but all address God. The central theme is the metaphysical and existential conflict between Gregory's desire to be perfect, as taught by Jesus, and his realization that it is impossible and between the divine grace and his sense of one's unworthiness to receive that grace. However, the love and mercy of God's all-embracing, all-forgiving, and amazing grace compensate for man's unworthiness.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|pp=277–278}}

The book is considered a masterpiece of Christian spiritual literature.{{sfn|La Porta|2016|pp=336–337}} Helen C. Evans described it as "one of the world's great mystical poems."{{cite book |last1=Evans |first1=Helen C. |author1-link=Helen C. Evans |editor1-last=Evans |editor1-first=Helen C. |title=Armenia: Art, Religion, and Trade in the Middle Ages |date=2018 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press |isbn=978-1-58839-660-0 |oclc=1028910888 |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Armenia_Art_Religion_and_Trade_in_the_Middle_Ages |chapter=Skevra |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ezNtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA139 139] }} It has been described by Agop Jack Hacikyan et al. as the "most beloved work of Armenian literature."{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=274}} It has been historically kept in Armenian homes.{{cite book|last=Douglas|first=John M.|title=The Armenians|date=1992|publisher=J.J. Winthrop Corporation|page=177|quote=It was a custom for every Armenian household to have a copy of Nareg.}}{{cite book|last=Svajian|first=Stephen G.|title=A Trip Through Historic Armenia|date=1977|publisher=GreenHill Pub.|page=79|quote=Krikor Naregatzi, an Armenian mystic poet of the Xth Century, wrote his masterpiece, the Nareg, which had replaced the Bible in many Armenian homes.}} Scholars have described its popularity among Armenians as second to the Bible.{{efn|

• Agop Jack Hacikyan et al.: "it is accorded an importance second only to that of the Bible itself."{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=274}}
• Vahan Kurkjian: "Narek, the Book of Prayer, was once regarded with veneration but little short of that accorded to the Bible itself."
• Vrej Nersessian: "After the Bible and the Book of Lamentations (Narek) of Grigor Narekatsi, 'Jesus the Son' was the most widely read book among the Armenians..."{{cite book|last=Nersessian|first=Vrej|author-link=Vrej Nersessian|title=The Bible in the Armenian Tradition|date=2001|publisher=The Bible in the Armenian Tradition|isbn=978-0-89236-640-8|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=7tSkalMzNvkC&dq=vrej+narekatsi&pg=PA48 48]}}
• Robert W. Thomson: "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."{{sfn|Thomson|1983|p=453}}
• Armenian Catholic independent researcher and writer Nareg Seferian said, describing it as "a mystical prayer book," only "second to the Bible as a holy work."{{cite journal|last=Martone|first=James|title=Armenians say 'whole population' set to welcome Pope Francis in June

|journal=America|date=16 March 2016|url=http://americamagazine.org/issue/armenians-await-june-visit-pope-francis|publisher=Society of Jesus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807080401/https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/armenians-await-june-visit-pope-francis |archive-date=7 August 2020}} }} For centuries, Armenians have treasured the book as an enchanted treasure and have attributed to it miraculous powers. For instance, one passage has been read to the ill expecting a cure.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=279}} Malachia Ormanian, scholar and Patriarch of Constantinople, wrote that Narek "written in a florid and sublime style, is regarded as a potent talisman against all kinds of dangers."{{cite book |last1=Ormanian |first1=Malachia |author1-link=Malachia Ormanian|translator=G. Marcar Gregory |title=The Church of Armenia: her history, doctrine, rule, discipline, liturgy, literature, and existing condition |date=1912 |publisher=A.R. Mowbray |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/thechurchofarmen00ormauoft/page/n215/mode/2up?view=theater&q=narek 177]}} In the 21st century, Dr. Armen Nersisyan, a professor of psychiatry, promotes the reading of the book with faith as a means of healing body and mind. {{cite news|last=Tovmasyan|first=Satenik|title=Narek Therapy: Armenians read medieval monk's verses as cure for ailments|url=http://www.armenianow.com/society/health/61265/armenia_health_narek_therapy_psychotherapy_armen_nersisyan|work=ArmeniaNow|date=9 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709135355/http://www.armenianow.com/society/health/61265/armenia_health_narek_therapy_psychotherapy_armen_nersisyan |archive-date=9 July 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Makaryan |first1=Adam |title=Նարեկաբուժություն |url=https://surbzoravor.am/post/view/narekabujutyun |website=surbzoravor.am |publisher=Araratian Pontifical Diocese |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250218075626/https://surbzoravor.am/post/view/narekabujutyun |archive-date=18 February 2025 |language=hy |date=8 August 2017}}

The book's first publication was attempted by Voskan Yerevantsi in Marseille, France, in 1673, but was censored by the Vatican.{{cite book |last1=Ishkhanyan |first1=Rafael |author-link1=Rafael Ishkhanyan |title=Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia Volume 7 |date=1981 |page=[https://hy.m.wikisource.org/wiki/%D4%B7%D5%BB:%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_(Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia)_7.djvu/340 340] |language=hy |chapter=Մարսելի հայկական տպագրություն [Armenian printing of Marseille] |quote=Կաթոլիկական գրաքննության պատճառով Նարեկացու երկի տպագրությունը մնում է անավարտ։ }} While the first complete commentary was published in Constantinople in 1745.{{sfn|Nazaryan|1990|p=75}} The work has been translated into English, Russian, French,{{cite book |last1=Mahé |first1=Jean-Pierre |author-link1=Jean-Pierre Mahé |title=Paroles à Dieu de Grégoire de Narek |date=2007 |publisher=Peeters |language=fr}} Arabic,{{cite journal |last1=Mkrtchyan |first1=Hasmik |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացու "Մատեան ողբերգութեան" պոեմի արաբերեն թարգմանությունը |journal=Etchmiadzin |date=1995 |volume=51 |issue=1 |pages=99–102 |url=http://echmiadzin.asj-oa.am/7473/ |language=hy |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420103534/http://echmiadzin.asj-oa.am/7473/ |url-status=live }} Persian,{{cite journal |last1=Apresyan |first1=A. |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացու "Մատեան ողբերգութեան" պոեմի թարգմանությունները [Translations of Grigor Narekatsi's "The Book of Lamentations"] |journal=Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri |date=2016 |issue=2 |pages=205–212 |url=http://lraber.asj-oa.am/6577/ |language=hy |access-date=31 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231144031/http://lraber.asj-oa.am/6577/ |url-status=live }} Lithuanian,{{cite book |last1=Narekaci |first1=Grigoras |translator=Sigitas Geda |title=Sielvartingų giedojimų dainos |date=1999 |publisher=Vaga |isbn=978-5-415-01418-7 |url=https://www.knygos.lt/lt/knygos/sielvartingu-giedojimu-dainos/ |language=lt}} Latvian,{{cite book |author1=Narekas Grigors|translator=Valda Salmiņa |editor1-last=Soboļeva |editor1-first=Liene |title=Žēlabu grāmata |date=2017 |publisher=Jumava |isbn=978-9934-20-014-4 |url=https://www.janisroze.lv/lv/gramatas/dailliteratura/tulkota-dailliteratura/dzeja/zelabu-gramata.html |language=lv}} Estonian.{{cite book |author1=Nareki Grigor|translator=Peeter Volkonski |title=Nutulaulude raamat |date=2017 |isbn=978-9985-58-841-3 |url=https://www.tlu.ee/pood/home/249-nutulaulude-raamat.html |language=et}} There are three English translations of the book, with the first one appearing in 1977.Lamentations of Narek: mystic soliloquies with God, translated by Mischa Kudian, published by Mashtots Press in London in 1977St. Grigor Narekatsi: Speaking with God from the Depths of the Heart, translated by Thomas J. Samuelian, published by Vem Press in Yerevan in 2001, {{ISBN|978-99930-853-1-7}}; 2nd edition, published in 2005, {{ISBN|978-99930-853-4-8}})The Book of sadness, translated by Khachatur Khachaturyan, published by Nairi in Yerevan in 2007 {{ISBN|978-5-550-01211-6}}A. Apresyan. Grigor Narekatsi and the translators, Review of Armenian Studies, #2, 2021, p. 214

Gregory's second most known extant work is a commentary on the Song of Songs ({{Lang|xcl|Մեկնութիւն երգոց երգոյն Սողոմոնի}}, {{Transliteration|xcl|Meknut'iun ergots' ergoyn Soghomoni}}), written in 977, the year he was ordained a priest.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=275}} The commentary was written at the behest of prince Gurgen-Khachik Artsruni of Vaspurakan.{{sfn|Ervine|2007|p=46}} Gregory makes frequent use of St. Gregory of Nyssa's Letters on the Song of Songs.{{sfn|Ervine|2007|p=44}} The commentary contains explicit condemnation of marriage and sexuality practices by Tondrakians, an Armenian Christian sect named as heretics by the Armenian Apostolic Church.{{sfn|Papazian|2019|p=91}} Gregory may have been commissioned to counter these heretical teachings.{{sfn|Papazian|2019|p=91}} Armenian author Ara Baliozian describes the commentary as a prose masterpiece.

There is also a single extant manuscript of a commentary by Gregory on chapters 38 and 39 of the Book of Job.{{sfn|Papazian|2019|p=90}} Gregory also wrote hymns, panegyrics on various holy figures, homilies,{{sfn|Thomson|1983|p=453}} numerous chants and prayers that are still sung today in Armenian churches.

Scholars have noted that Gregory often departs from the standards of the Armenian and Greek traditions of panegyrics and encomia and innovates in interesting and distinctive ways.{{cite book | last=Dasnabedian | first=Thamar | title=Le panégyrique de la Sainte Mère de Dieu de Grigor Narekaci | publisher=Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia | year=1995 | page=39 }} Of particular importance are his two recensions of the encomium on the Holy Virgin,{{sfn |Terian | 2016 |pp=288–325}} in which he affirms the doctrines of Mary's bodily Assumption ({{Transliteration|xcl|verap'okhumn}}), perpetual virginity, and perhaps the Immaculate Conception.{{sfn | Papazian | 2019 | pp=220–231}}

The encomium on the Holy Virgin was written as part of a triptych requested by the bishop Step'anos of Mokk'.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xnzaEAAAQBAJ |title = The History of the Holy Cross of Aparank |isbn = 978-1-0881-1378-3 |last1 = Curtin|first1 = D. P.|date = February 2014|publisher = Dalcassian Publishing Company }} The other two panegyrics forming this set are the History of the Holy Cross of Aparank,{{sfn|Terian|2016|pp=223–243}} which commemorates the donation of a relic of the True Cross to the monastery of Aparank' by the Byzantine emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII, and the Encomium on the Holy Cross.{{sfn|Terian|2016|pp=244–287}} By focusing on the cross, both of these panegyrics counter Tondrakian rejection of veneration of the cross and other material objects.{{sfn|Papazian|2019|p=110}} Here again, as in the rest of Gregory's corpus, the saint defends orthodoxy against the Tondrakians and other heretical movements. Gregory also wrote a panegyric on St. Jacob of Nisibis, a fourth-century Syriac bishop who has been and remains today highly esteemed among Armenians.{{sfn|Terian|2016|pp=344–361}} Gregory also has is an encomium on the Holy Apostles.{{sfn|Terian|2016|pp=326–343}}

Gregory also authored around two dozen {{Transliteration|hy|tagher}} (lays or odes), which are the first documented religious poems in Armenian literature, and spiritual songs called {{Transliteration|xcl|gandz}}, both in verse and prose.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=276}}{{cite journal|last=Conybeare|first=Fred. C.|author-link=Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare|title=The Hymnal of the Armenian Church|journal=The Journal of Theological Studies|date=January 1906|volume=7|issue=26|page=291|jstor=23947198|url=https://zenodo.org/record/2136246|access-date=17 September 2019|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801062254/https://zenodo.org/record/2136246|url-status=live}} Gregory also composed music for his odes, but they are not considered {{Transliteration|xcl|sharakans}} (chants).{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=276}}

Many of the festal odes and litanies as well as the panegyrics have been translated to English and annotated by Abraham Terian.{{sfn|Terian|2016|pp=3–172}}

File:Fetvadjian Grigor Narekatsi.jpg (1863–1947).{{cite web |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացի |url=http://www.gallery.am/hy/database-egov/item/5533/ |publisher=National Gallery of Armenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109140125/http://www.gallery.am/hy/database-egov/item/5533/ |archive-date=9 November 2023 |language=hy}}]]

The central idea of Gregory's philosophy is eternal salvation relying solely upon faith and divine grace, and not necessarily upon the institutional church, in which his views are similar to those of the 16th century Protestant Reformation.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=278}} This interpretation of Gregory as a precursor of Protestantism has more recently been challenged.{{sfn|Papazian |2019 |pages=115–119}} Gregory may have been suspected of heresy and being sympathetic to the Paulicians and Tondrakians—two major sects in medieval Armenia.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=278}} He notably wrote a treatise against the Tondrakians in the 980s,{{sfn|Nazaryan|1990|p=78}} possibly to clear himself of accusations of being sympathetic to their movement.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=276}} In the treatise, he states some of his theological views. Although Gregory does not mention the Tondrakians in the Book of Lamentations, some scholars have interpreted certain chapters as containing anti-Tondrakian elements.{{sfn|Nazaryan|1990|pp=76–77}} Other scholars have pointed out that the Book of Lamentations is dominated by the theme of the centrality of the sacraments, especially baptism, reconciliation, and the Eucharist, and thus directly opposes Tondrakian deprecation of the sacraments.{{sfn|Papazian|2019|pp=170–175}} In his struggle against the antinomian Tondrakians, Gregory followed his predecessor at the monastery of Narek—his great-uncle Anania, who was condemned for his alleged Tondrakian beliefs.{{sfn|La Porta|2016|pp=343–344}}

According to Ara Baliozian, Gregory broke from Hellenistic thought, which was dominant among the Armenian intellectual elite since the 5th-century golden age. He was instead profoundly influenced by Neoplatonism. In fact, the Narek school was instrumental in instilling Christian Neoplatonism in Armenian theology, particularly concepts such as divinization, the attainment of the power of spiritual vision or discernment through penitential purification of the inner and outer man, and a symbolic exegetical methodology.{{sfn|La Porta|2016|p=336}} He may have been influenced by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, a pivotal author in Christian Neoplatonism, although this view has been challenged.{{cite journal |last1=Tamrazian |first1=Hrachya |author-link1=:hy:Հրաչյա Թամրազյան |title=Դիոնիսիոս Արեոպագացին եւ Գրիգոր Նարեկացին [Dionysius the Areopagitc and Gregory of Narek] |journal=Etchmiadzin |date=2010 |volume=86 |issue=11 |pages=50–73 |url=http://echmiadzin.asj-oa.am/6932/ |publisher=Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin |language=hy |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043107/http://echmiadzin.asj-oa.am/6932/ |url-status=live }}{{sfn|Terian|2016|p=xxii}} Vache Nalbandian argued that Gregory's outlook is essentially anti-feudal and humanistic.{{cite journal |last1=Nalbandian |first1=V. S. |title=Աշխարհը և նրա ապագան Գրիգոր Նարեկացու պատկերացմամբ [The Universe and Its Future According to Grigor Narekatsi] |journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes |date=1988 |issue=3 |pages=29–44 |url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/4999/ |language=hy |access-date=31 December 2018 |archive-date=2 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102023618/http://hpj.asj-oa.am/4999/ |url-status=live }}

The tone of the Book of Lamentations has been compared to that of Confessions by Augustine of Hippo.{{cite book|last1=Kebranian|first1=N.|editor1-last=Cushman|editor1-first=Stephen|editor2-last=Cavanagh|editor2-first=Clare|editor3-last=Ramazani|editor3-first=Jahan|editor4-last=Rouzer|editor4-first=Paul|editor2-link=Clare Cavanagh|title=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics|contribution=Armenian poetry and poetics|date=2012|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-4142-4|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=uKiC6IeFR2UC&dq=narekatsi&pg=PA83 83]|edition=4th}} Some scholars have compared Gregory's worldview, and philosophy to those of later Sufi mystic poets Rumi and Yunus Emre,{{cite book |last1=Stepaniants |first1=Marietta T. |title=Sufi Wisdom |date=1994 |publisher=State University of New York Press |location=Albany |isbn=978-0-7914-1796-6 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Sfdke9M7VVoC&dq=narekatsi+sufism&pg=PA41 41]}}{{cite journal |last1=Safarian |first1=Al. V. |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացու ու սուֆի բանաստեղծների ստեղծագործություններում ավանդական պատկերների "ադապտացման" մասին [On "adaptation" of traditional characters in Grigor Narekatsi's and Sufi poets' works] |journal=Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri |date=1993 |issue=2 |pages=103–113 |url=http://lraber.asj-oa.am/2973/ |language=hy |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130111456/http://lraber.asj-oa.am/2973/ |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|last=Safarian|first=A. V.|title=О гуманизме Григора Нарекаци и поэтов-суфиев [On the humanism of Girgor Narekatsi and Sufi poets]|journal=Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri|date=1990|issue=7|pages=62–68|url=http://lraber.asj-oa.am/3584/|language=ru|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=1 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201040156/http://lraber.asj-oa.am/3584/|url-status=live}} and 19th century Russian writers Fyodor Dostoevsky{{cite book |last1=Zulumyan |first1=Burastan |editor1-last=Stepanyan |editor1-first=Karen |editor1-link=:ru:Степанян, Карен Ашотович |title=Достоевский и мировая культура [Dostoevsky and international culture] |date=2013 |publisher=International Dostoevsky Society |location=Moscow |isbn=978-5-85735-246-5 |pages=149–177 |chapter-url=https://www.fedordostoevsky.ru/pdf/dmk30-1.pdf |language=ru |chapter=Путь к человеку: Григор Нарекаци и Федор Достоевский [Path to humanity: Grigor Narekatsi and Fyodor Dostoevsky]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228124636/https://www.fedordostoevsky.ru/pdf/dmk30-1.pdf |archive-date=28 December 2018 }} and A. K. Tolstoy.{{cite journal |last1=Darbinyan-Melikyan |first1=Margarita |title=И с горной выси я сошёл... |journal=Literaturnaya Gazeta |date=2015 |issue=6 |url=http://www.lgz.ru/article/-29-6517-15-07-2015/i-s-gornoy-vysi-ya-soshyel-/ |language=ru |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228130638/http://www.lgz.ru/article/-29-6517-15-07-2015/i-s-gornoy-vysi-ya-soshyel-/ |archive-date=28 December 2018 |url-status=bot: unknown }}() "Думается мне, что с Григором Нарекаци и своим творчеством, и как личность сопоставим граф А.К. Толстой, отличавшийся редким благородством как души, так и внешности." Michael Papazian, a scholar of Gregory, opined that he is "what you'd get if you crossed Augustine and James Joyce. But his spirituality is also infused with the simple piety of the Desert Fathers; and, although he lived before him, there's an element of St. Francis in him, too. He's a synthesis of so many strands of Christian tradition."{{cite news |last1=Aquilina |first1=Mike |author-link1=Mike Aquilina |title=The ancient wisdom of Armenia's 'Doctor of Mercy' for the new decade |url=https://angelusnews.com/faith/a-new-book-introduces-us-to-the-most-important-saint-you-never-heard-of/amp/ |work=Angelus |publisher=Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles |date=9 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111144409/https://angelusnews.com/faith/a-new-book-introduces-us-to-the-most-important-saint-you-never-heard-of/amp/ |archive-date=11 January 2020}}

File:Գրիգոր Նարեկացի (1).JPG.]]

Gregory was the first major Armenian lyrical poet and is considered the most beloved person in Armenian Christianity.{{sfn|Thomson|1983|p=453}} Robert W. Thomson described him as the "most significant poet of the whole Armenian religious tradition," while Jos Weitenberg declared him the "most outstanding theological, mystical and literary figure of Armenian culture." James R. Russell lists Gregory as one of the three visionaries of the Armenian tradition, along with Mesrop Mashtots and Yeghishe Charents.{{cite book |last1=Russell |first1=James R. |author-link1=James R. Russell |title=Armenian and Iranian Studies |publisher=Harvard University Press |date=2005 |isbn=978-0-935411-19-5 |url=https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780935411195 |quote=(About the book): A number of studies also deal with the visionaries of the Armenian tradition—Mashtots', Narekats'i, Ch'arents'. |access-date=12 January 2021 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114051118/https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780935411195 |url-status=live }}

According to Hacikyan et al. Gregory "deserves to be known as one of the great mystical writers of medieval Christendom."{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=274}} Vrej Nersessian considers him a "poet of world stature" in the "scope and breadth of his intellect and poetic inventiveness, and in the brooding, visionary quality of his language"—on a par with St Augustine, Dante, and Edward Taylor. Levon Zekiyan shares a similar view, describing Gregory as a unique figure not just in Armenian national and ecclesiastical culture, but also that of the entire globe.{{sfn|Zekiyan|2015|p=10}} Nersessian argues that Gregory ranks with St. Augustine and Thomas à Kempis as "one the three greatest mystic writers in medieval Christendom, his monumental Lamentations joins the former's Confessions, and the latter's Imitation of Christ to form a natural trilogy."{{sfn|Nersessian|2018|p=258}} Armenian-Russian critic Karen Stepanyan writes that Gregory's genius makes him comparable with Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Dostoevsky.{{cite news |last1=Vinogradov |first1=Leonid |title=Карен Степанян о Достоевском, читавшем Сервантеса, и поисках Бога в литературе |url=https://www.pravmir.ru/karen-stepanyan-o-dostoevskom-servantese-i-poiskax-boga-v-literature/ |work=pravmir.ru |agency=Orthodoxy and the World |date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228124434/https://www.pravmir.ru/karen-stepanyan-o-dostoevskom-servantese-i-poiskax-boga-v-literature/ |archive-date=28 December 2018 |language=ru}}

Agop Jack Hacikyan et al. note that through his "lively, vibrant, and highly individual style" Gregory shaped, refined, and greatly enriched Classical Armenian through his works.{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=275}} According to Hrachik Mirzoyan, Gregory may have created more than 2,500 new Armenian words, including {{Transliteration|xcl|lusankar}} 'a portrait or image' and օդաչու, {{Transliteration|xcl|odach'u}} 'a person who flies, pilot'. Many of the words Gregory created are not actively used or have been replaced by other words.

France-based Western Armenian writer Shahan Shahnour has been Gregory's most prominent critic. Shahnour targeted him in his novel Retreat Without Song ({{Lang|hy|Նահանջը առանց երգի}}, published in 1929) through one of his characters. The latter describes the Book of Lamentations as "the most immoral, unhealthy, poisonous book, a work that had debilitated the Armenians as a nation. The Armenians remain defeated in trying to emulate Grigor's miserable, maimed soul." Criticizing the book's influence on rooting the notion of fate in Armenian popular belief and for making Armenians "conventional, patient, tolerant, suffocating the freedom-loving spirit in [them]."{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/readersencyclope00robe/page/356|title=Reader's encyclopedia of Eastern European literature|date=1993|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-270007-0|editor1-last=Pynsent|editor1-first=Robert B.|page=[https://archive.org/details/readersencyclope00robe/page/356 356] }}{{cite journal|last=Karagulyan|first=Hasmik|date=2006|title=Շահան Շահնուրի "Նահանջը առանց երգի" վեպը [Shahan Shahnur's Novel "The Digression without a Song"]|url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/1764/|journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes|language=hy|issue=3|page=109|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129021614/http://hpj.asj-oa.am/1764/|archive-date=29 January 2019|access-date=30 December 2018}}

Paruyr Sevak opined that the Narek has not been read by Armenians as much as it has been kissed.

File:Moscow Armenian cathedral Narekatsi.jpg of Gregory of Narek on the wall of the Armenian Cathedral of Moscow. He is depicted as holding the Book of Lamentations with "Speaking with God from the Depths of the Heart" engraved on it.]]

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates his feast on the second Saturday of October, during the Feast of the Holy Translators ({{Lang|xcl|Սուրբ Թարգմանչաց}}, {{Transliteration|xcl|Surb T'argmanch'ats'}}). Dedicated to him, Mesrop Mashtots, Yeghishe, Movses Khorenatsi, David the Invincible, and Nerses Shnorhali, it was declared a national holiday in Armenia in 2001.{{cite web |title=Հայաստանի Հանրապետության տոների և հիշատակի օրերի մասին ՀՀ օրենք |url=https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=32127 |website=arlis.am |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704144731/https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=32127 |archive-date=4 July 2019 |language=hy |date=24 June 2001}} The exact date of his canonization by the Armenian Church is unknown, but he was already recognized as a saint by 1173, when Nerses of Lambron (Lambronatsi) included, in the earliest extant manuscript of the Book of Lamentations, a biographical section on him entitled "The Life of the Holy Man of God Grigor Narekatsi".{{efn|«Վարք սրբոյ առնն Աստուծոյ Գրիգորի Նարեկացւոյ»}}{{sfn|Nersessian|2018|p=238}} His contemporary, historian Ukhtanes (c. 940-1000) called Gregory a "Universal vardapet" ({{Transliteration|hy|Tiezerakan vardapet}}).{{sfn|Nersessian|2018|p=238}}

In the 15th century, when the Catholicosate of Aghtamar was at the center of efforts to revive Armenian statehood, monks at the Cathedral of Aghtamar sought to construct a tradition that would link the Catholicosate to Gregory. One such tradition claimed that Gregory himself had founded the Catholicosate. In ritual books commissioned by Zakaria III and Stepanos IV, Gregory is depicted more than just equal-to-the-apostles.{{cite book |last1=Tumanyan |first1=Lusine |title=Վանա լճի կղզիների վանքերի գրչության կենտրոնները [The Scriptoria of the Monasteries of the Van Lake Islands] |date=2019 |publisher=Matenadaran Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts |location=Yerevan |isbn=978-9939-9237-0-3 |pages=28–30 |url=https://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/el_gradaran/L.Tumanyan.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108203435/https://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/el_gradaran/L.Tumanyan.pdf |archive-date=8 January 2022 |language=hy}}

A relic of Gregory is preserved at the Treasury Museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Recently, it was brought out to Etchmiadzin Cathedral for the feast of the Holy Translators on 13 October 2012.{{cite web|title=Relics of St. Grigor Narekatsi will be Brought to the Mother Cathedral|url=http://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=3&nid=2234&y=2012&m=9&d=11&lng=en|website=armenianchurch.org|publisher=Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin|date=13 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108140736/https://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=3&nid=2234&y=2012&m=9&d=11&lng=en |archive-date=8 January 2021}} and for the foot washing and oil blessing ceremony on Holy Thursday on 9 April 2020.{{cite web |title=Սուրբ Գրիգոր Նարեկացու մասունքը, որը դուրս է բերվել Ոտնլվայի արարողությանը |url=https://news.am/arm/news/571693.html |website=news.am |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420225343/https://news.am/arm/news/571693.html |archive-date=20 April 2020 |language=hy |date=10 April 2020}}

Several churches built in Armenia in the 21st century have been named after him.{{efn|e.g. churches in Alaverdi (completed in 2001),{{cite web|title=Celebration of the 10th anniversary of St. Grigor Narekatsi church anointment|url=http://www.vallexgroup.am/en/1377581741|website=vallexgroup.am|publisher=Companies of Vallex Group|date=14 November 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210108132817/http://vallexgroup.am/en/celebration-of-the-10th-anniversary-of-st-grigor-narekatsi-church-anointment/|archive-date=8 January 2021|access-date=30 December 2018|url-status=live}} Vanadzor (completed in 2005) and Armavir (completed in 2014){{cite web|title=Consecration of the St. Grigor Narekatsi Church in Armavir|url=http://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=1&id=30056&pid=16576&lng=en|website=armenianchurch.org|publisher=Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin|date=3 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108153140/https://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=1&id=30056&pid=16576&lng=en |archive-date=8 January 2021}}}} The St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Apostolic Church in Richmond Heights, Ohio, near Cleveland, was built in 1964.{{cite web|title=Parish History|url=http://www.stgregoryofnarek.org/parish-history/|website=stgregoryofnarek.org|publisher=Armenian Church St. Gregory of Narek|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018195530/http://www.stgregoryofnarek.org/parish-history/|archive-date=18 October 2017}}

File:San Lazzaro degli Armeni-2023-Gregory of Narek-cropped.jpg's Mother House at San Lazzaro degli Armeni, Venice.]]

Despite the schism over the Council of Chalcedon, there have always been at least some Catholics using the Armenian Rite.Donald Attwater (1948), The Christian Churches of the East: Volume I Churches in Communion with Rome, The Bruce Publishing Company. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Page 183. For example, even though the Monastery of Narek was founded by Armenian monks fleeing religious persecution in Cappadocia under the Byzantine Emperor Romanus Lecapenus, the monks of Narek, including Gregory himself, were repeatedly accused of involvement in the Tsayt movement. The Tsayts were a school of thought within the Armenian Apostolic Church who accepted the teachings of the Council of Chalcedon while continuing to offer the liturgy in Classical Armenian. To Armenians who viewed the Council of Chalcedon as a contradiction of Cyril of Alexandria and therefore as heresy, the Tsayts were accused of being "Greeks but with an Armenian tongue", and even as "half, insufficient, or inadequate Armenians". Meanwhile, criticisms by Gregory of the Paulician Tondrakian movement, a breakaway Christian Armenian sect that the Armenian and Calcedonian Churches both labeled heretics,See {{in lang|hy}} Babken Arakelyan (1976), "Sotsialakan sharzhumnere Hayastanum IX-XI darerum," [Social movements in Armenia, 9th-11th centuries] in Hay Zhoghovrdi Patmutyun [History of the Armenian People], eds. Tsatur Aghayan et al. Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, vol. 3, pp. 284-88. have survived, but no similar criticisms of the Council of Chalcedon, the Papacy, or of the Tsayts are known to exist by his hand.Vrej Nersessian, (2018), St. Gregory of Narek: Mystic, Poet, Doctor of the Church, London. pp. 18-19.

This would become important centuries later, when the Mekhitarist Order was founded by Mkhitar Sebastatsi as part of a wider movement within the Armenian Apostolic Church towards acceptance of the Council of Chalcedon and reunification with the Holy See. Encouraged by French Jesuit and Capuchin missionaries in the Ottoman Empire, this movement eventually resulted in both the 1707 martyrdom of Gomidas Keumurdjian and the 1742 formation of the Patriarchate of Cilicia to head the Armenian Catholic Church. For many reasons, Gregory and Nerses Shnorhali were the only two post-Chalcedon Armenian theologians used by the Mekhitarist monks to preach reunion through their publishing apostolate based at San Lazzaro Island in Venice.Vrej Nersessian, (2018), St. Gregory of Narek: Mystic, Poet, Doctor of the Church, London. pp. 5-7.

In his 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater, Pope John Paul II called Gregory "one of the outstanding glories of Armenia."{{cite web|title=Redemptoris Mater|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater.html|website=vatican.va|date=25 March 1987 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108154025/http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater.html |archive-date=8 January 2021}} On 18 February 1989, John Paul II established the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Gregory of Narek in Buenos Aires.{{cite web|title=The Eastern Catholic Churches 2015|url=http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat15.pdf|website=cnewa.org|publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503175937/https://cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat15.pdf |archive-date=3 May 2016}} John Paul II referred to him in several other addresses.{{cite web |date=18 October 2000 |title=General Audience |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20001018.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109102803/http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20001018.html |archive-date=9 January 2021 |website=vatican.va |quote=Let us express our desire for the divine life offered in Christ in the warm tones of a great theologian of the Armenian Church, Gregory of Narek (10th century): "It is not for his gifts...}}{{cite web |date=2 February 2001 |title=On the 1700th anniversary of the "Baptism of Armenia" |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20010217_battesimo-armenia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109104250/http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20010217_battesimo-armenia.html |archive-date=9 January 2021 |website=vatican.va |quote=St Gregory of Narek, the great Marian Vardapet (Doctor) of the Armenian Church...}}{{cite web |date=13 November 2002 |title=General Audience |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20021113.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109102807/http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20021113.html |archive-date=9 January 2021 |website=vatican.va |quote=Let us now listen to a teacher of the Armenian tradition, Gregory of Narek (c. 950–1010), who in his Panegyric Address to the Blessed Virgin Mary says to her: "Taking refuge under your most worthy and powerful intercession...}} Article 2678 of Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by John Paul II in 1992, mentions the tradition of prayer in Gregory's works.{{cite web |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1c2a2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108155351/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1c2a2.htm |archive-date=8 January 2021 |website=vatican.va |quote=But in the Ave Maria, the theotokia, the hymns of St. Ephrem or St. Gregory of Narek, the tradition of prayer is basically the same.}} John Paul II also described Gregory as "one of Our Lady's principal poets" and "the great doctor of the Armenian Church" in his 18 February 2001 Angelus address.{{cite web |date=18 February 2001 |title=Angelus |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/angelus/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_ang_20010218.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109104254/http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/angelus/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_ang_20010218.html |archive-date=9 January 2021 |website=vatican.va |quote=One of Our Lady's principal poets is the great doctor of the Armenian Church, St Gregory of Narek.}}

Gregory was recognized officially in the revised 2001 Roman Martyrology and its updated 2004 edition.{{cite web |title=Martirologio Romano (in Italian) |url=https://liturgico.chiesacattolica.it/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2017/09/21/Martirologio-Romano.pdf |website=Ufficio liturgico Nazionale della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana |access-date=27 February 2024 |page=227}} This recognition went largely unnoticed until his declaration as a Doctor of the Church in 2015, causing some in Catholic media to state incorrectly that the declaration was an act of equipollent canonization.{{cite web |title=Saint of the Day: Saint Gregory of Narek |url=https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-gregory-of-narek/ |website=Franciscan Media |date=27 March 2022 |access-date=27 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Staudt |first1=Dr. R. Jared |title=St. Gregory of Narek: Was the New Doctor of the Church a Catholic? |url=https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2015/02/26/st-gregory-of-narek-was-the-new-doctor-of-the-church-a-catholic/ |website=Catholic World Report |access-date=27 February 2024 |date=26 February 2015}}

Gregory is depicted in the painting, "Our Lady of Narek" by Ariel Agemian.{{cite web |last1=Andonevich |first1=Lukas |title=Ariel Agemian ( 1904-1963 ) |url=https://armenianpainters.blogspot.com/2012/04/ariel-agemian-1904-1963.html |website=Armenian Painters |access-date=1 March 2024 |date=7 April 2012}} The image is based on a vision of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child, which Gregory experienced while in prayer. The painting is enshrined above the altar in the chapel of the Pontifical Armenian College in Rome.{{cite web |title=Nuestra Señora de Narek |url=https://torreciudad.org/galeria-mariana/ntra-sra-de-narek/ |website=Torre Ciudad |access-date=1 March 2024}}

On 4 September 2014, Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni appointed Archbishop Boghos Levon Zekiyan of the Mekhitarist Order as Postulator, with orders to argue for Gregory of Narek being named a Doctor of the Church. Proof was demanded from Zekiyan that the Armenian Apostolic Church has never been Monophysite and only rejected the Council of Chalcedon due to a misunderstanding over semantics. Zekiyan's investigation and arguments were successfulRev. Dr. Vrej Nersessian, Ph.D. (2018), St. Gregory of Narek: Mystic, Poet, Doctor of the Church, London. Pages 5-7. and, on 23 February 2015 Pope Francis declared Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church.{{cite news|first=David V.|last=Barrett|title=Armenian saint proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/02/23/armenian-saint-proclaimed-doctor-of-the-church-by-pope-francis/|work=The Catholic Herald|date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609092945/https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/02/23/armenian-saint-proclaimed-doctor-of-the-church-by-pope-francis/ |archive-date=9 June 2019}}{{cite news|date=23 February 2015|title=Gregory of Narek is declared a Doctor of the Church|work=La Stampa|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2015/02/23/vaticaninsider/eng/the-vatican/gregory-of-narek-is-declared-a-doctor-of-the-church-fQGAZL5deajQJOftta3naK/pagina.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923014819/https://www.lastampa.it/vatican-insider/en/2015/02/23/news/gregory-of-narek-is-declared-a-doctor-of-the-church-1.35297508|archive-date=23 September 2020}} On 12 April 2015, on Divine Mercy Sunday, during a Mass for the centennial of the Armenian genocide at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis officially proclaimed Gregory as Doctor of the Church in the presence of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I, and Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni.{{cite news|title=Historic Mass dedicated to 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide begins at the Vatican (live)|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/801408/historic-mass-dedicated-to-100th-anniversary-of-the-armenian-genocide-begins-at-the-vatican-live.html|agency=Armenpress|date=12 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801071013/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/801408/historic-mass-dedicated-to-100th-anniversary-of-the-armenian-genocide-begins-at-the-vatican-live.html |archive-date=1 August 2020}} During a Mass on 25 June 2016 in Vartanants Square in Gyumri, Francis stated that he had "wished to draw greater attention" to Gregory by making him a Doctor of the Church.{{cite web|title=Holy Mass: Homily of the Holy Father|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2016/documents/papa-francesco_20160625_omelia-armenia-gyumri.html|website=vatican.va|publisher=Holy See|location=Gyumri, Vartanants Square|date=25 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109104103/http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2016/documents/papa-francesco_20160625_omelia-armenia-gyumri.html |archive-date=9 January 2021}} In a 2023 address, Pope Francis said of Gregory: "What is most striking about him is the universal solidarity of which he is an interpreter."{{cite web |title=General audience |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230426-udienza-generale.html |website=vatican.va |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426131930/https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230426-udienza-generale.html |archive-date=26 April 2023 |location=Saint Peter's Square |date=26 April 2023}}

Gregory is the 36th and the first Armenian Doctor of the Church.{{cite web|title=St. Gregory of Narek is classified among the doctors of the church of the Catholic Church|url=http://www.1tv.am/en/news/2015/04/12/St-Gregory-of-Narek-is-classified-among-the-doctors-of-the-church-of-the-Catholic-Church/12985|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611150419/http://www.1tv.am/en/news/2015/04/12/St-Gregory-of-Narek-is-classified-among-the-doctors-of-the-church-of-the-Catholic-Church/12985|archive-date=11 June 2016|website=1tv.am|publisher=Public Television of Armenia|date=12 April 2015}} He is also the "second saint coming out of the Eastern Church" to become a Doctor{{cite web|last1=Morio|first1=Eva Maurer|title=The Armenian Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Church|work=Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem |url=http://en.lpj.org/2015/04/16/the-armenian-gregory-of-narek-doctor-of-the-church/|publisher=Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem|date=16 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231093817/http://en.lpj.org/2015/04/16/the-armenian-gregory-of-narek-doctor-of-the-church/ |archive-date=31 December 2018}} and the only Doctor "who was not in communion with the Catholic Church during his lifetime."{{cite web|last1=Del Cogliano|first1=Mark|title=A New Doctor of the Church: St. Gregory of Narek|url=http://www.stthomas.edu/news/theology-matters-new-doctor-church-st-gregory-narek/|website=theology matters|publisher=University of St. Thomas Department of Theology|date=8 October 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210107131109/https://news.stthomas.edu/theology-matters-new-doctor-church-st-gregory-narek/|archive-date=7 January 2021|access-date=30 December 2018|url-status=live}}{{efn|Del Cogliano clarifies that this was facilitated by a "common declaration of faith in Christ" by Pope John Paul II and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin I which confirmed that the two churches "believe the same things about Christ, even if they express these things in different language" that has led to unfortunate divisions since the Second Council of Constantinople; "this statement effectively exonerates St. Gregory of any 'Christological' errors: even if St. Gregory was not in communion with the Catholic Church, in doctrinal matters there was complete agreement."}}

Gregory's recognition as a Doctor of the Church was commemorated by the Vatican City state with a postage stamp put into circulation on 2 September 2015.{{cite news |title=Centenario della morte del beato e martire Ignazio Maloyan e Proclamazione di San Gregorio di Narek Dottore della Chiesa |url=https://www.vaticanstate.va/it/servizi/direzione-telecomunicazioni/poste-e-filatelia/filatelia/emissioni-filateliche/centenario-della-morte-del-beato-e-martire-ignazio-maloyan-e-proclamazione-di-san-gregorio-di-narek-dottore-della-chiesa.html |work=vaticanstate.va |date=2 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109104324/https://www.vaticanstate.va/it/servizi/direzione-telecomunicazioni/poste-e-filatelia/filatelia/emissioni-filateliche/centenario-della-morte-del-beato-e-martire-ignazio-maloyan-e-proclamazione-di-san-gregorio-di-narek-dottore-della-chiesa.html |archive-date=9 January 2021 |language=it}}{{cite web|title=Stamps of Vatican City: Armenian Church (2015)|url=http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/topicals-thematics/stamps-of-vatican-city-armenian-church-2015/|website=The Philatelic Database|date=31 August 2015|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231100215/http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/topicals-thematics/stamps-of-vatican-city-armenian-church-2015/|url-status=live}} On 5 April 2018 a two-meter-high bronze statue of Gregory, erected by {{ill|Davit Yerevantsi|hy|Դավիթ Երևանցի}}, was unveiled at the Vatican Gardens by Mikayel Minasyan, Armenia's Ambassador to the Holy See. The ceremony was also attended by Pope Francis, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, and Armenian Apostolic leaders Karekin II and Aram I.{{cite news|last1=Danielyan|first1=Emil|title=New Vatican Statue Highlights Armenian-Catholic Rapprochement|url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29148075.html|agency=RFE/RL|date=5 April 2018|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406041348/https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29148075.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Statue of St. Gregory of Narek unveiled in Vatican |url=http://www.president.am/en/press-release/item/2018/04/05/President-Serzh-Sargsyan-attended-the-unveiling-ceremony-of-the-statue-of-Saint-Gregory-of-Narek/ |work=president.am |agency=The Office to the President of the Republic of Armenia |date=5 April 2018 |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211142209/http://www.president.am/en/press-release/item/2018/04/05/President-Serzh-Sargsyan-attended-the-unveiling-ceremony-of-the-statue-of-Saint-Gregory-of-Narek |url-status=live }}

In 2021 the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments established an optional memorial for him on 27 February on the General Roman Calendar.{{cite web |title=DECREE on the Inscription of the Celebrations of Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church, Saint John De Avila, Priest and Doctor of the Church and Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, in the General Roman Calendar |url=http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20210125_decreto-dottori_en.html |website=vatican.va |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202130806/http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20210125_decreto-dottori_en.html |archive-date=2 February 2021 |date=25 January 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Brockhaus |first1=Hannah |title=Pope Francis adds feast of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus to Church calendar |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/246329/pope-francis-adds-feast-of-martha-mary-and-lazarus-to-church-calendar |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=2 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205225644/https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-adds-feast-of-martha-mary-and-lazarus-to-church-calendar-31940 |archive-date=5 February 2021}}

Gregory influenced virtually all Armenian literature that came after him. Manuk Abeghian argued that his mark on Armenian Christian literature was "comparable to Homer for Greek and Dante for Italian."{{sfn|Nersessian|2018|p=238}}Manouk Abeghyan, Հայոց հին գրականութեան պատմութիւն [History of ancient Armenian literature] (Erevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1944), Bk. 1, pp. 511-69 Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni ({{circa|990–1058}}) is considered his direct literary successor.{{cite journal|last1=Mkhitarian|first1=S. M.|title=X–XII դարերի հայ բանաստեղծությունը Ղ.Ալիշանի գնահատմամբ [Armenian poetry of the 10th–12th centuries in estimation of Gh.Alishan]|journal=Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri|date=2001|issue=2|page=104|url=http://lraber.asj-oa.am/862/|language=hy|quote=Գր. Նարեկացու անմիջական հաջորդ ու նրա ավանդները շարունակողը Գր. Մագիստրոս Պահլավունին (990–1058) է:|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=30 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130232037/http://lraber.asj-oa.am/862/|url-status=live}} Scholars have noted Gregory's influence on Armenian poets—medieval and modern ones alike. He inspired prominent medieval poets Hovhannes Imastaser (c. 1047–1129),{{sfn|Avagyan|2017|p=117}} Nerses Shnorhali (1102–1173) and Frik ({{circa|1230}}–1310), and in the modern period, Sayat-Nova (1712–95), Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869–1923),{{sfn|Avagyan|2017|p=117}} Misak Metsarents (1886–1908), Daniel Varoujan (1884–1915), Siamanto (1878–1915),{{cite journal |last1=Ghazaryan |first1=Norayr |title=Նարեկացի եւ Սիամանթո [Gregory of Narek and Siamanto] |journal=Etchmiadzin |date=2013 |volume=70 |issue=12 |pages=127–132 |url=http://echmiadzin.asj-oa.am/15044/ |language=hy |access-date=29 January 2021 |archive-date=2 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202003144/http://echmiadzin.asj-oa.am/15044/ |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |last1=van Lint |first1=Theo |author1-link=Theo van Lint |title=Սիամանթոյի' Սուրբ Մեսրոպին նվիրված բանաստեղծությունների շուրջ [On Siamanto's poems dedicated to St. Mesrop] |journal=Banber Matenadarani |date=2012 |volume=19 |page=71 |url=https://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/data/Banber19/5.T.Marten.pdf |publisher=Matenadaran |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129161919/https://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/data/Banber19/5.T.Marten.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2021 |language=hy |quote=Սիամանթոն, Դանիել Վարուժանը և Միսաք Մեծարենցը մեծ ուշադրությամբ կարդացել են Գրիգոր Նարեկացու Մատեան ողբերգութեան-ը և եղել են բանաստեղծական հանճարեղ այդ ստեղծագործության ներգործության տակ:}} Yeghishe Charents (1897–1937), and Paruyr Sevak (1924–1971).{{cite journal|last1=Aristakesyan|first1=Ruzan|title=Պարույր Սևակ -Նարեկացի. ստեղծագործական ազդակներ և առնչություններ [Paruyr Sevak – Narekatsi. Creative impulses and communication]|journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes|date=2005|issue=2|page=256|url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/3627/|language=hy|quote=Գրական առաջին իսկ քայլերից Նարեկացու արվեստը ոգևորել և ուղղորդել է Պ. Սևակին:|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022123121/http://hpj.asj-oa.am/3627/|url-status=live}}

Charents lauds the "hallowed brows" of Gregory and Nahapet Kuchak in his 1920 poem "I Love My Armenia" (":hy:s:Ես իմ անուշ Հայաստանի").{{cite journal |author1=Yeghishe Charents |translator=Vera Von Wiren |title=I Love My Armenia |journal=Ararat Quarterly |date=Spring 1974 |issue=57 |page=[https://archive.today/9PE3O/9a13150e7cb5b4beafa43ca6bddb84722d9964c8.png 46] |url=https://tert.nla.am/archive/NLA%20AMSAGIR/Ararat%20AGBU/1974/2.pdf |publisher=Armenian General Benevolent Union}} In another poem, entitled "To Armenia" (":hy:s:Հայաստանին"), Charents lists Gregory, Nerses Shnorhali and Naghash Hovnatan as geniuses.{{cite book |title=Եղիշե Չարենց, Երկերի ժողովածու, հատոր 1-ին [Yeghishe Charents, Collected works, vol. 1] |date=1962 |publisher=Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences Press |location=Yerevan |page=[https://hy.wikisource.org/wiki/%D4%B7%D5%BB:Yeghishe_Charents,_Collected_works,_vol._1_(%D4%B5%D5%B2%D5%AB%D5%B7%D5%A5_%D5%89%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A5%D5%B6%D6%81,_%D4%B5%D6%80%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AB_%D5%AA%D5%B8%D5%B2%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%AE%D5%B8%D6%82,_%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%B8%D6%80_1-%D5%AB%D5%B6).djvu/245 245] |language=hy |quote=Նարեկացի, Շնորհալի, Նաղաշ Հովնաթան— Ինչքա՜ն հանճար, խելք ես տեսել— էլի՛ կտեսնես:}} Sevak describes the Book of Lamentations a "temple of poesy, on which the destructive action of time has had no effect."{{sfn|Hacikyan|Basmajian|Franchuk|Ouzounian|2002|p=279}}

File:ArmenianStamps-235.jpg

Narek (Western Armenian: Nareg) is a highly popular male first name among Armenians. In 2018 it was the second most common name given to baby boys.{{cite web |title=Հետաքրքրաշարժ վիճակագրություն [Interesting statistics] |url=https://www.armstat.am/file/article/sv_12_18a_6200.pdf |website=armstat.am |publisher=Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia |page=251 |language=hy |date=5 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108124617/https://www.armstat.am/file/article/sv_12_18a_6200.pdf |archive-date=8 January 2021 }} It originates from the village and monastery of Narek and owns its popularity to Gregory of Narek and the Book of Lamentations, popularly known as "Narek."{{cite book |last1=Acharian |first1=Hrachia |author-link1=Hrachia Acharian |title=Հայոց անձնանունների բառարան [Dictionary of Personal Names] Vol. 4 |date=1942 |publisher=Yerevan State University |page=[http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=35&dt=HY_HY&query=%D5%86%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A5%D5%AF 25] |language=hy |quote=Նարեկ գյուղի անունից, որով կոչվել է Գրիգոր Նարեկացին և իր նշանավոր աղոթագիրքը}} Hrachia Acharian did not provide an etymology for Narek, and James R. Russell noted that it has "no special meaning."{{cite book|last=Russell|first=James R.|author-link=James R. Russell|title=Zoroastrianism in Armenia|date=1987|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|isbn=978-0-674-96850-9|url=https://archive.org/details/JamesRussellZoroastrianismInArmenia|page=[https://archive.org/details/JamesRussellZoroastrianismInArmenia/page/n83/mode/1up?view=theater&q=narek 157]}}

The village of Narek in Armenia's Ararat Province, founded in 1984, is named after Gregory.{{cite book |last1=Hakobian |first1=T. Kh. |last2=Melik-Bakhshian |first2=St. T. |last3=Barseghian |first3=H. Kh. |author-link1=Tadevos Hakobyan |author-link2=:hy:Ստեփան Մելիք-Բախշյան |author-link3=:hy:Հովհաննես Բարսեղյան |title=Հայաստանի և հարակից շրջանների տեղանունների բառարան [Dictionary of Toponyms of Armenia and Surrounding Regions] Volume II |date=1988 |publisher=Yerevan University Press |page=[http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=61&dt=HY_HY&query=%D5%86%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A5%D5%AF 969] |language=hy |chapter=Նարեկ [Narek]|quote=1984 թ. կոչվել է Ն՝ ի պատիվ մեծ բանաստեղծ Գրիգոր Նարեկացու...}}{{cite web |title=Նարեկ [Narek] |url=http://ararat.mtad.am/about-communities/131/ |publisher=Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705212334/http://ararat.mtad.am/about-communities/131/ |archive-date=5 July 2022 |language=hy |quote=...իր անվանումը ստացել է ի պատիվ Գրիգոր Նարեկացու...}}

The Narekatsi Professorship of Armenian Language and Culture, established in 1969, is the oldest endowed chair of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).{{cite web|first=Meg|last=Sullivan|title=New Holder Of UCLA Professorship Celebrates 2,500 Years Of Armenian Culture|url=http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/New-Holder-Of-UCLA-Professorship-1800|publisher=University of California, Los Angeles|date=20 September 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043555/http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/New-Holder-Of-UCLA-Professorship-1800 |archive-date=31 December 2018}} In Yerevan, a public school (established in 1967 and renamed in 1990) and a medical center (established in 2003) are named after Gregory.{{cite web|title=The schools subordinated to the municipality of Yerevan|url=https://www.yerevan.am/en/school/?page=4|website=yerevan.am|publisher=Municipality of Yerevan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108124951/https://www.yerevan.am/en/school/?page=4 |archive-date=8 January 2021}}{{cite web|title="Grigor Narekatsi" MC|url=https://www.yerevan.am/en/grigor-narekatsi-mc/|website=yerevan.am|publisher=Municipality of Yerevan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108125018/https://www.yerevan.am/en/grigor-narekatsi-mc/ |archive-date=8 January 2021}} Gregory is depicted on a postage stamp issued by Armenia in 2001.{{cite web |title=Stamps issued in 2001 |url=http://www.armenianstamps.com/2001.html |website=armenianstamps.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820132932/http://www.armenianstamps.com/2001.html |archive-date=20 August 2008 |quote=Grigor Narekatsi, Millennium of "Record of Lamentations"}} The Naregatsi Art Institute ({{Transliteration|hy|Narekats'i arvesti miut'yun}}),{{cite web|title=Vision|url=http://www.naregatsi.org/vision|website=naregatsi.org|publisher=Naregatsi Art Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816015846/http://www.naregatsi.org/vision|archive-date=16 August 2016|access-date=30 December 2018|url-status=live}} has its headquarters in Yerevan, Armenia (since 2004) and previously a center in Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) (since 2006).{{cite news|last=Karoyan|first=Marine|title="Նարեկացի" արվեստի միություն|url=http://www.azg.am/AM/culture/2015060503|work=Azg|date=4 June 2015|language=hy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807073908/https://www.azg.am/AM/culture/2015060503 |archive-date=7 August 2020}}

A statue of Gregory was erected in Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia District in 2002.{{cite news|title=Երեւանում բացվեց Նարեկացու արձանը|url=https://armenpress.am/arm/news/380749/erevanum-bacvec-narekacu-ardzany.html|agency=Armenpress|date=19 April 2002|language=hy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801055151/https://armenpress.am/arm/news/380749/erevanum-bacvec-narekacu-ardzany.html |archive-date=1 August 2020}} A large stone resembling an old manuscript with inscribed lines and images from the Book of Lamentations was unveiled in the Narekatsi quarter of Yerevan's Avan district in 2010.{{cite news|title=Stone Narek or Book of Lamentation|url=https://www.armenianow.com/multimedia/feature_photo/24575/stone_narek_or_book_of_lamentation|work=ArmeniaNow|date=2 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120115047/https://www.armenianow.com/multimedia/feature_photo/24575/stone_narek_or_book_of_lamentation |archive-date=20 November 2010}}

Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke composed music for the Russian translation of the Book of Lamentations in 1985 named "Concerto for mixed chorus".{{cite news|last1=Eichler|first1=Jeremy|title=Sublime Rachmaninoff Does a Warm-Up Act for Schnittke|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/19/arts/music/sublime-rachmaninoff-does-a-warmup-act-for-schnittke.html|work=The New York Times|date=19 February 2005|access-date=28 January 2019|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231092637/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/19/arts/music/sublime-rachmaninoff-does-a-warmup-act-for-schnittke.html|url-status=live}}

• Doctors of the Church
• Exegesis – commentary on religious text
• Gregory the Illuminator, similarly named saint venerated by Armenian Christians
• History of the Armenian literature
• Mystical theology

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|3|refs=

{{cite web|title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացի [Grigor Narekatsi]|url=http://www.armenianlanguage.am/am/Encyclopedia_grigor_narekaci |publisher=Institute for Armenian Studies of Yerevan State University|language=hy|date=2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322073248/http://www.armenianlanguage.am/am/Encyclopedia_grigor_narekaci |archive-date=22 March 2018}}

{{cite web|url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/02/23/pope_francis_declares_armenian_saint_doctor_of_the_church/1125062|title=Pope Francis declares Armenian saint Doctor of the Church |publisher=Vatican Radio|date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620152413/http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2015/02/23/pope_francis_declares_armenian_saint_doctor_of_the_church/en-1125062 |archive-date=20 June 2019}}

{{cite book|author-link=Vrej Nersessian|first=Vrej|last=Nersessian|editor1-last=France|editor1-first=Peter|title=The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation|contribution=Armenian|date=2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-924784-4|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pmNoS2dndKsC&dq=narekatsi&pg=PA191 191]}}

{{cite journal|last=Mesrob|first=Levon|author-link1=:hy:Լևոն Մեսրոպ|title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացու մասին [On Grigor Narekatsi]|journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes|date=1958|issue=3|pages=267–270|url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/151/|language=hy|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=19 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019130643/http://hpj.asj-oa.am/151/|url-status=live}}

{{cite book|editor1-last=de Laet|editor1-first=Sigfried J.|title=History of Humanity: From the seventh to the sixteenth century|contribution=Armenians|year=1994|publisher=UNESCO|isbn=978-92-3-102813-7|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=PvlthkbFU1UC&dq=grigor+narekatsi&pg=PA665 665]}}

{{cite web|title=Message of His Holiness Pope Francis on the 100th anniversary of "Metz Yeghern" and proclamation of St. Gregory of Narek as a Doctor of the Church|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150412_messaggio-armeni.html|website=vatican.va|date=12 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108110310/http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150412_messaggio-armeni.html |archive-date=8 November 2020}}

{{cite book|last=Kurkjian|first=Vahan|author-link=Vahan Kurkjian|title=A History of Armenia|date=1964|orig-date=1958|publisher=Armenian General Benevolent Union of America|location=New York|page=[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Asia/Armenia/_Texts/KURARM/41*.html 374]}}

{{cite journal|last=Thomson|first=Robert W.|author-link=Robert W. Thomson|title=Review of two French books on Narekatsi|journal=The Journal of Theological Studies|date=2010|volume=61|issue=1|pages=389–390|doi=10.1093/jts/flp172|jstor=43665092}}

{{cite journal|last=Weitenberg|first=Jos J. S.|title=Reviewed Work: Saint Grégoire de Narek théologicien et mystique. Colloque international tenu à l'Institut Pontifical Oriental... 20–22 janvier 2005 by Jean-Pierre Mahé, Boghos Levon Zekiyan|journal=Vigiliae Christianae|date=2008|volume=62|issue=1|pages=100–101|jstor=20474849}}

{{cite book|last=Hasratyan|first=Murad|author-link=Murad Hasratyan|title=Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia Vol. 8|contribution=Նարեկավանք [Narekavank]|date=1982|publisher=Armenian Encyclopedia|location=Yerevan|page=[https://web.archive.org/web/20181231143723/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_%28Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia%29_8.djvu/page203-4345px-%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_%28Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia%29_8.djvu.jpg 203]|language=hy }}

{{cite book |last1=Baliozian |first1=Ara |author-link1=Ara Baliozian |title=The Armenians: Their History and Culture |date=1980 |publisher=AGBU Ararat Press |location=New York |pages=52–53}}

{{cite journal |last1=Ashughyan |first1=Karine |title=Աստվածախույզ Նարեկացու "մոդայիկ" դառնալու լույսն ու ստվերը |journal=Grakan tert |date=23 October 2017 |url=http://www.grakantert.am/archives/10636 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227192231/http://www.grakantert.am/archives/10636 |archive-date=27 December 2018 |publisher=Writers Union of Armenia |language=hy}}

{{cite web|first1=G. G.|last1=Tamrazyan|first2=S. S.|last2=Manukyan|first3=A. S.|last3=Arevshatyan|title=Григор Нарекаци (Grigor Narekatsi)|url=http://www.pravenc.ru/text/168101.html|website=Orthodox Encyclopedia|publisher=Russian Orthodox Church|language=ru|date=8 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807091740/https://www.pravenc.ru/text/168101.html |archive-date=7 August 2020}}

{{cite book |last1=Acharian |first1=Hrachia |author1-link=Hrachia Acharian |title=Հայոց անձնանունների բառարան [Dictionary of Armenian Proper Names] Volume I |date=1942 |publisher=Yerevan University Press |pages=[http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=35&dt=HY_HY&pageNumber=568 543-547] |language=hy}}

}}

• {{Cite journal |last1=Avagyan |first1=Vachagan |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացին Հրանտ Թամրազյանի գնահատմամբ [The evaluation of Grigor Narekatsi by Hrant Tamrazyan]|journal=Akunq: Collection of Scientific Articles |date=2017 |volume=1 |issue=15 |url=http://ysu.am/files/Narekaci.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228123039/http://ysu.am/files/Narekaci.pdf |archive-date=28 December 2018 |publisher=Yerevan State University Ijevan Branch|language=hy}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ervine |first=Roberta |title=The Blessing of Blessings: Gregory of Narek's Commentary on the Song of Songs |publisher=Cistercian Publications |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-87907-215-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/blessingofblessi0000grig }}
• {{Cite book |last1=Hacikyan |first1=Agop Jack |author-link1=Agop Jack Hacikyan |last2=Basmajian |first2=Gabriel |last3=Franchuk |first3=Edward S. |last4=Ouzounian |first4=Nourhan |chapter=Grigor Narekatsi |title=The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century|year=2002|publisher=Wayne State University Press|location=Detroit|isbn=978-0-8143-3023-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/GrigorNarekatsi 274-279]}}
• {{Cite book |last1=La Porta |first1=Sergio |editor1-last=Murzaku |editor1-first=Ines Angeli |title=Monasticism in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Republics |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-39105-0 |pages=330–350 |chapter=Monasticism and the construction of the Armenian intellectual tradition}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Nazaryan |first1=Shushanik |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացու պայքարը թոնդրակյան աղանդավորական շարժման դեմ [Grigor Narekatsi's struggle against the Tondrakian sect] |journal=Etchmiadzin |date=1990 |volume=47 |issue=10–12 |pages=72–86 |url=http://echmiadzin.asj-oa.am/6739/ |publisher=Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin |language=hy}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Nersessian |first1=Vrej |author-link1=Vrej Nersessian |title=Grigor Naregatsi, mystic and poet: The soul's search for immediacy with God |journal=Sion |date=2018 |volume=90 |issue=7–9 |pages=236–258 |url=http://sionj.asj-oa.am/12286/ |publisher=Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem }}
• {{Cite book |last1=Papazian |first1=Michael |title=The Doctor of Mercy: The Sacred Treasures of St. Gregory of Narek |date=2019 |publisher=Liturgical Press |location=Collegeville, Minnesota |isbn=978-0-8146-8501-3}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Terian |first1=Abraham |title=The Festal Works of St. Gregory of Narek: Annotated Translation of the Odes, Litanies, and Encomia |date=2016 |publisher=Liturgical Press |location=Collegeville, Minnesota |isbn=978-0-8146-6318-9}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Thomson |first=R. W. |author-link=Robert W. Thomson |title=Gregory of Narek's 'Commentary on The Song of Songs' |journal=The Journal of Theological Studies |date=1983 |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=453–496 |publisher=Oxford University Press |jstor=23963468 |doi=10.1093/jts/34.2.453}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Thomson |first1=Robert W. |author-link1=Robert W. Thomson |editor1-last=Hovannisian |editor1-first=Richard G. |editor1-link=Richard G. Hovannisian |title=The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times: Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/armenianpeoplefr00rich_0 |chapter-url-access=registration |date=1997 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/armenianpeoplefr00rich_0/page/231 231–232] |chapter=Armenian Literary Culture Through the Eleventh Century։ Gregory of Narek}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Zekiyan |first1=Levon |author1-link=Levon Zekiyan |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացի՝ տիեզերական վարդապետ |journal=Banber Matenadarani |date=2015 |volume=22 |pages=10–23 |url=https://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/data/Banber22/2.L.Zeqian.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108211725/https://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/data/Banber22/2.L.Zeqian.pdf |archive-date=8 January 2022 |language=hy}}

• {{Cite journal |last1=Mahé |first1=Jean-Pierre |author-link1=:Jean-Pierre Mahé |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացու 'Ապարանքի Սուրբ Խաչի Պատմության' գաղտնիքները |url=http://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/data/Banber22/3.Z.P.Mahe.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227192043/http://www.matenadaran.am/ftp/data/Banber22/3.Z.P.Mahe.pdf |archive-date=27 December 2018 |journal=Banber Matenadarani |year=2015 |volume=22 |pages=24–30 |publisher=Matenadaran |language=hy}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Mkhitaryan |first=Sargis |title=Գրիգոր Նարեկացու 'Մատեան ողբերգութեան' պոեմը |trans-title="Grigor Narekatsi's Poem 'Book of Lamentations{{'"}} |journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes |date=2003 |issue=2 |pages=59–69 |url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/3950/ |language=hy}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Papazian |first1=Michael B. |title=The Theology of Sin and Redemption in the Narek |journal=Hask: Yearbook of Armenian Studies |date=2006 |pages=149–154 |url=https://www.academia.edu/11053334 |publisher=Catholicosate of the Armenian Apostolic Church}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Poghosyan |first1=Samvel |title=Grigor Narekatsi's Astronomical Insights |journal=Relation of Astronomy to Other Sciences, Culture and Society. Proceedings of XIII Annual Meeting of Armenian Astronomical Society |page=380 |date=October 2014 |bibcode=2015rasc.conf..380P}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Russell |first=J. R. |author-link=James R. Russell |title=Two Notes on Biblical Tradition and Native Epic in the Book of Lamentation of St. Grigor Narekac'i |journal=Revue des Études Arméniennes |date=1990 |volume=22 |pages=135–145 |doi=10.2143/REA.22.0.2017168}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Terian |first1=Abraham |editor1-last=Parry |editor1-first=Ken |title=The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Patristics |date=2015 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |isbn=978-1-118-43871-8 |chapter-url=http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781118438718_chunk_g978111843871820 |chapter=Gregory of Narek}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Valdis Salmiņš |first1=Valda |title=Bībeles Personvārdi Narekas Grigora Žēlabu Grāmatā |trans-title="Biblical Person Names in The Book of Lamentations by Grigor Narekatsi (1001–1003)" |journal=Personvārds Kultūrā. Zinātnisku Rakstu Krājums |volume=I |date=2009 |pages=55–64 |url=http://scireprints.lu.lv/49/ |publisher=Daugavpils University |language=lv}}
• {{Cite web |last=Vesnina |first=Berenika |title=Нарекаци, Грегор [Narekatsi, Gregory] |url=http://www.krugosvet.ru/enc/kultura_i_obrazovanie/literatura/NAREKATSI_GREGOR.html |publisher=Krugosvet |language=ru}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Zulumyan |first=Burastan |title=Символика 'Книги скорбных песнопений' Григора Нарекаци |trans-title="Symbolics of Grigor Narekatsi's 'The Book of Lamentations{{'"}} |journal=Patma-Banasirakan Handes |date=2010 |issue=2 |pages=130–149 |url=http://hpj.asj-oa.am/2832/ |language=ru}}

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