Gedenkteken H. Gregorius van Narek geplaatst in Amsterdamse co-kathedraal

In de co-ka­the­drale basiliek van de H. Nicolaas in Am­ster­dam vond zater­dag 10 mei een bij­zon­der gebeuren plaats. Een gedenkteken van de H. Gregorius van Narek werd geplaatst op ini­tia­tief van de St. Grigor Narekatsi foundation en de Pan-Armenian Geografic Society. Daarbij werd ook paus Fran­cis­cus her­dacht die deze heilige tot kerk­le­raar heeft uit­groepen.

Gregorius van Narek

De heilige Gregorius van Narek is een Armeense heilige een monnik, mysticus, filo­soof, theoloog, com­po­nist, schrijver, heilige en kerk­le­raar die leefde rond het jaar 1000. Zijn invloed in de oosterse kerken is groot. Door paus Fran­cis­cus tot kerk­le­raar uit­ge­roe­pen is hij geplaatst op de uni­ver­se­le heiligenkalen­der. Hij wordt op 27 februari gevierd.

De heilige en paus Fran­cis­cus

De Armeens Apos­to­lische Kerk staat heel dicht bij de Rooms Katho­lieke kerk. Om dat tot uitdruk­king te brengen heeft de Apos­to­lisch Armeense Kerk een eigen gezant bij de H. Stoel en is in het Vati­caan een groot stand­beeld opgericht van de heilige Gregorius van Narek (Grigor Narekatsi), gemaakt door D. Yere­vantsi die ook het gedenkteken in de co-ka­the­draal heeft vervaar­digd, dat vóór het altaar met de relieken van de H. Nicolaas in de zijwand is geplaatst. De beeld­hou­wer D. Yere­vantsi ver­telde dat paus Fran­cis­cus hem had gezegd dat hij iedere ochtend als hij uit zijn raam keek naar het stand­beeld van Gregorius een gebed tot de heilige deed.

Aarts­bis­schop gezant

Bij de plech­tig­heid was de pau­se­lijk legaat voor West Europa en gezant bij de H. Stoel, aarts­bis­schop Khazhak Barsamian aanwe­zig, die onder meer terug­blikte op het pon­ti­fi­caat van paus Fran­cis­cus die zich zo'n grote vriend van het Armeense volk en de Armeense kerk had getoond. De aarts­bis­schop zegende het gedenkteken, waar­mee ik mij met mijn zegen verenigde.

Sprekers

Naast de aarts­bis­schop spraken ook de heer Avan Avakian, de voor­zit­ter van de stich­ting Grigor Narekatsi, de heer Rafaël Hovhannisyan van de Pan-Armenian Geografic Society, de beeld­hou­wer en na­tuur­lijk deken Eric Fennis, rector van de co-ka­the­drale basiliek.

Hieroner volgen de toe­spraak die ik heb gehou­den en het gebed van de H. Grigor Narekatsi dat ik na de ze­ge­ning heb uit­ge­spro­ken.

Word of welcome

Your Excellency, Archbishop Khazhak Barsawian, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See,
Mr. Avakian, chairman of Saint Grigor Narekatsy Foundation,
mr. Yere­vantsi, sculptor of this bust,
mr. Hovannesyan, other dis­tinguished guests,

It is an honour to welcome you to this Co-Ca­the­dral Basilica of St. Nicholas, in the centre of Am­ster­dam, for this tribute to the great Armenian saint, Abbot Gregory of Narek, whom we all venerate.

Doctor of the church

In 2015 - ten years ago now - in the presence His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians, he has been declared as Doctor of the Church by the recently deceased Pope Francis. On Thursday, 5 April 2018, a impressive statue of St. Gregory of Narek was unveiled in the Vatican, in the presence of Pope Francis and His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. Both ceremonies were attended by the Presi­dent of Armenia and many other dignitaries. This all underlined the profound ties between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope John Paul

Also before Pope Francis, other Supreme Pontiffs of the Catholic church honoured this great saint as well:
In his 1987 encyclical Re­demp­to­ris Mater, Pope saint John Paul II called saint Gregory, for example, ‘one of the outstan­ding glories of Armenia’ and in his 18 February 2001 Angelus address he called him ‘the great doctor of the Armenian Church’.
The spiritual inspiration and cultural influence that emanated from this saint can hardly be overestimated.

Ties with Am­ster­dam

The place­ment of this statue of Saint Grigori Narekatsi, Gregory of Narek, in this year of the 750th anniversary of the city of Am­ster­dam, also serves to underline the long-stan­ding and deep ties between the city of Am­ster­dam and the Armenian people. Trade relations developed as early as the begin­ning of the seventeenth century, and many Armenian merchants arrived here in the nearby port. The first Armenian Bible was printed in Am­ster­dam in 1666. There was a special respect for the Armenian presence in this city. At a time when there was no religious freedom here, the Armenians were granted per­mission by the city council in 1714 to establish their own church. We greatly appreciate the fact that this church-buil­ding has been in use again as an Armenian Apostolic Church since 1989 and has been so beautifully restored.

Armenia

Armenia, the oldest Christian nation with its rich history and culture, has also suffered greatly throughout the ages. We think of the suffe­ring in very recent times caused by war and conflicts, but of course especially we remember the Armenian genocide, which must never be forgotten and in memory of which monu­ments have also been erected in this city. The place­ment of this statue of Saint Gregory of Narek may also be an invitation to pray for las­ting peace and freedom for the Armenian people.

It is therefore a great honour for me to receive this bust of Saint Gregory of Narek here in this co-ca­the­dral and to welcome you all to this mea­ningful ceremony.    

Prayer by Saint Gregory of Narek

Lord, my Lord, grantor of gifts, root of goodness,
ruler of all equally, creator of all from nothing,
glorified, awesome, awe inspi­ring,
beyond understan­ding,
dreadful, mighty, stern,
unbearable, unapproachable, incomprehensible,
inconceivable,
ineffable, invisible, unexaminable,
untouchable, unsearchable,
without begin­ning, outside of time,
unclouded knowledge, bold vision,
true being, exalted and humble,1
blessed existence, shadowless dawn,
ray shi­ning upon all, light profes­sing to all,
unwave­ring assurance, undisturbable calm,
indelible seal, infinite image, witnessed name,
taste of sweetness, cup of bliss,
soul-nou­rishing bread, love in dark exile,
unambiguous pro­mise,
cove­ring most desirable, gar­ment most protective,
cloak most worthy, orna­ment most glorious,
great help, trustworthy refuge,
undiminishing grace, inexhaustible treasure,
pure rain, glitte­ring dew,
universal cure, free healing,
health restored, sublime spur,
undecei­ving call, good news for all,
king who lifts up the slave,
defen­der who loves the poor,
giver of endless wealth,
safe harbor, unyiel­ding command,
hope without bounds,
long in vision, unspa­ring in generosity,
just right hand that dispenses to all,
impartial eye, voice of comfort, consoling tidings,
harbin­ger of bliss,
living name, fin­ger of foresight,
unstumbling start, sincere course,
life-giving will, candid advice, unenvying honor,
broad possibility, narrow restriction,
track without trace, path without markers,
image indescribable, quantity immeasurable,
model inimitable,
unparalleled compassion, inexhaustible mercy,
humility celebrated, kiss of salvation.

And more than these worthy epithets,
dedicated to your Godliness,
you who are blessed, praised, lauded,
preached, evangelized,
proclaimed, exalted, recounted, sought with
unflag­ging desire,
whatever your streams of sweetness bring us,
shall be illustrated in these image-filled psalms,
sho­wing you joyful in my salvation, blessed Lord,
as if a ravenous hun­ger had been relieved by a
sumptuous feast,
for you are glorified not because of some
vain song of mine,
but because you may accept these modest prayers
as justification for gran­ting your great salvation.