Nersēs Shnorhali

Nersès Šnorhali

Biography

He lived through the tragic period when his country was invaded and ravaged by the Seljuk Turks. Born into an illustrious family traditionally linked to Saint Gregory the Illuminator (3rd-4th century), he succeeded his brother Grigoris III as Patriarch of Cilician Armenia in 1166, who had conferred the priesthood on him and made him his secretary for the affairs of the Patriarchate. He made great efforts to re-establish unity between the Church of Armenia and that of Constantinople, which only his death seems to have prevented. Musician and poet, author of liturgical hymns, scriptural commentaries, letters and, above all, numerous poems.

Cf. Cf. C. Mondésert – J.-N. Guinot, Lire les pères de l’Église, dans la collection « Sources chrétiennes », Cerf, Paris 2010², p. 169-170.