The great Armenian mystical poet and theologian of the 10th century, St. Gregory of Narek, was remembered in a special liturgical gathering and conference in Rome, Italy, on February 28.
Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Armenian Church’s Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and its Representative to the Holy See, jointly presided over the ecumenical service at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, also participated, along with Armenian Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican clergy, diplomats, and academics.
The event coincided with the annual celebration of St. Gregory’s feast day in the Roman Catholic calendar. Armenian Christians have long revered Narek as the author of the collection of mystical poems known as the “Book of Lamentations,” among other spiritual treasures. But in 2015, the 10th-century Armenian monk was approved by Pope Francis as one of the 36 Doctors of the Roman Catholic Church.
Also honored on the occasion was Professor Abraham Terian, a longtime leader of the Eastern Diocese, who has just published a new English translation of Narek’s writings, titled From the Depths of the Heart: An Annotated Translation of St. Gregory of Narek. St. Thomas Aquinas University rector Fr. Thomas White, Armenologist Professor Marco Bais, as well as Dr. Terian spoke during the panel discussion, which concluded with remarks by the Republic of Armenia’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Amb. Garen Nazarian.
Later in the week, Archbishop Barsamian introduced Dr. and Mrs. Terian to Pope Francis, during a Papal General Audience at the Vatican, where the Pope was presented with Dr. Terian’s latest works. Click the links to view photos, and to read more on the Facebook page of the Pontifical Legation.