St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Prayer Book: Speaking with God from the Heart (Bilingual English & Armenian Edition) - Perfect for Spiritual Meditation & Armenian Christian Worship

This excellent translation makes available to English readers one of the great spiritual poems in existence. Though the translation at time falls short of rendering the beauty, rhythm and density of Narek's work, it is nevertheless an important achievement. Very few works in literature can offer the kind of sublime experience afforded by reading Narek in the original Classical Armenian (called Krapar). Hundreds of years before the English language developed a mature prose, Narek drew upon the power and beauty of Classical Armenian to compose a lyrical work in free verse that is universal in poetic scope and theological depth. In the Book of Lamentations, Narek does more than craft beautiful poem prayers. He examines the human condition and offers profound meditations on the nature of existence and the Christian God. Each of Narek's poems are entitled "Speaking with God from the Depths of the Heart," and the concept of speech is central to the work. The Lamentations is a tour de force in Classical Armenian poetry: a never-ending, richly flowing word-song that mesmerizes and overwhelms the reader with the density and variety of its innumerable poetic images. It realizes the full potential of the excuisite language of Classical Armenian and elevates it to new aethetic heights. The idea of redemption through speech, of not only confession of mind and heart, but of self-examination and conscious, deliberate reflection, is one of the central themes of this work, a theme that English speakers can now explore with this still imperfect but nevertheless valuable translaction.