December 28, 2009 - 12:25 AMT
Yerevan to host "In search of Naregatsi" documentary screening
Naregatsi Art Center will host "In search of Naregatsi" documentary screening tomorrow, on December 29. Hovik Hakhverdyan's 50-minute Armenian language film portrays the life of mediaeval poet and philosopher Grigor Naregatsi. Following the screening, a Q&A session with movie director will be held.

Grigor Naregatsi (951-1003) is a canonized saint. He was an Armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher and theologian, born into a family of writers. Almost all of his life he lived in the monasteries of Narek (in Greater Armenia, now Turkey) where he taught at the monastic school. He is the author of mystical interpretation on the Song of Songs (977) and numerous poetic writings. Narekatsi's poetry is deeply biblical and is penetrated with images, themes and realities of sacred history, distinguished with intimate, personal character. The mystical poem "Book of Lamentations" (published in 1673 in Marseille) has been translated into many languages and has played a significant role in the development of the Armenian literary language.