Skip to main content
There's a Saint for That! Search

St. Gregory of Narek

Feast varies

Patron of

About

Saint Gregory of Narek, born Grigor Narekatsi around 950, was an Armenian mystical and lyrical poet, monk, and theologian who lived in the monastery of Narek on the shores of Lake Van. He devoted himself to contemplation and the writing of verse, prayer, and mystical theology, and is revered as one of the greatest figures of Armenian letters. His masterpiece, the Book of Lamentations, known in Armenian as Matean Oghbergut'yan, is a long prayer of repentance and longing for God that has been read and cherished for a thousand years. Venerated from antiquity as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches, he was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015. He is honored as a patron of poets, mystics, and theologians.

poets, poetry, poem, verse, poems, poets and writers, bards, lyricists, rhyme, verse makers, mystics, mystic, mysticism, mystical, mystical theology, mystical experiences, mystical prayer, mystical life, contemplative mystics, mystical union, mystics of the church, theologians, theologian, theology, theological, divinity, divine learning, religious scholars, theological studies, sacred doctrine, theological research, divinity scholars, monks, monk, monastic, monasticism, monastic life, monasteries, religious brothers, cloistered monks, monastic orders, monks life, brothers, contemplation, contemplative prayer, meditation, contemplative, meditating, prayerful meditation, contemplative life, quiet prayer, silent prayer, reflecting, contemplating

Suggested prayer

O God, who gave Saint Gregory of Narek the tongue of a poet and the heart of a contemplative, grant through his intercession that all who seek you may find you in the depths of prayer, and that the Church may ever sing your mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sources

Other saints to pray to

For poets

For mystics