Narekatsi was often mentioned by Pope John Paul II . In his 1987 encyclical '' Redemptoris Mater '' the Pope called him " one of the outstanding glories of Armenia . " Article 2678 of Catechism of the Catholic Church , promulgated by John Paul II in 1992 , mentions the tradition of prayer in his works . John Paul II referred to him in addresses in 2000 and 2002 . In his February 18 , 2001 '' Angelus '' address John Paul II described him as " one of Our Lady 's principal poets " and " the great doctor of the Armenian Church " . In his 2001 '' Apostolic Letter for the 1,700 th Anniversary of the Baptism of the Armenian People '' the Pope stated that Gregory of Narek " probed the dark depths of human desperation and glimpsed the blazing light of grace that shines even there for believers . " It was announced in February 2015 that Gregory of Narek would be named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis . On 12 April 2015 , on Divine Mercy Sunday , during a Mass for the centennial of the Armenian Genocide at St. Peter 's Basilica , Pope Francis officially proclaimed Gregory of Narek as Doctor of the Church in attendance of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan , Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II , Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I , and Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni . Francis declared : He became the 36th and the first Armenian Doctor of the Church . He is also the " second saint coming out of the Eastern Church " and the only Doctor " who was not in communion with the Catholic Church during his lifetime . " His name is listed among the saints for 27 February in the '' Roman Martyrology '' , where he is defined as " monk , doctor of the Armenians , distinguished for his writings and mystic science . " During a mass on June 25 , 2016 in Vartanants Square in Gyumri , Francis stated that he " wished to draw greater attention " to Gregory of Narek by making him a Doctor of the Church . He further added : In Yerevan 's Republic Square Pope Francis suggested that Gregory can " be defined as a ' Doctor of Peace ' . " St. Gregory 's proclamation as a Doctor of the Church was commemorated by the Vatican City state with a postage stamp put into circulation September 2 , 2015 . On 5 April 2018 a two-meter-high bronze statue of Narekatsi , erected by Davit Yerevantsi , was unveiled at the Vatican Gardens by Mikael Minasyan , Armenia 's Ambassador to the Holy See . The inaugural ceremony was attended by Pope Francis , Armenia 's President Serzh Sargsyan , Armenian Apostolic leaders Karekin II and Aram I
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Gregory of Narek