Universal Key Between East and West: St. Gregory of Narek

The contribution of St. Gregory of Narek (ca. 950–1003) to the corpus of world spirituality during the Middle Ages has been the subject of underestimation, particularly by Western authors and sources. In the contemporary era, Gregory of Narekʼs oeuvre, along with its dissemination and re-evaluation in the West, is regarded through the lens of literary schools, interpretations, and modern translations. Of particular significance is his canonization by the Catholic Church. Gregory of Narek is recognized as an exceptional chronicler of poetic art from the School of Narek and as a developer of its literary traditions. This article will focus on the theoretical and creative connections between the School of Narek and the School of Cilicia, which enabled chroniclers of the Cilician school to restore and rediscover Gregory of Narek’s literary legacy. The commentaries on the Book of Lamentation, in particular, have contributed to a more profound understanding of St. Gregory of Narek’s ecclesiastical and spiritual-poetic works, thereby facilitating comprehension for Western scholars and translators. The dissemination of St. Gregory of Narek’s oeuvre in the West has been significantly facilitated by the efforts of French, Russian, English, Italian, and other translators. On April 12, 2015, Pope Francis I formally designated Gregory of Narek as a Doctor of the Universal Church. This formal acknowledgement by the Catholic Church signifies a pivotal development, propelling heightened interest and closer examination of Gregory of Narek’s contributions within the Western academic and cultural landscape. It also heralds a renewed scholarly focus on the universal, human, and enduring significance of St. Gregory of Narek.