Though this saint is very well known in his native country of Armenia and among his own people, it is only recently that Saint Gregory of Narek has made an entrance into the list of optional memorials in the Roman Catholic Church.

Gregory was born sometime between the years 945 and 950. Following the death of his parents, Gregory was raised in the monastery of Narek by an uncle who was a monk there.

A gifted theologian and mystic, he is best known for a long, mystical poem entitled the “Book of Prayer” or the “Book of Lamentations.” Consisting of 95 prayers, it was completed a year before he died in 1003.

Gregory was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015. As such, he is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic Church and in the Armenian Apostolic Church. His feast is February 27.