Theologian · Medieval
St. Nerses Shnorhali
1102–1173 · Armenian theology of the Cilician age
Catholicos of All Armenians (1166–1173); “the Gracious.” Venerated by the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian Catholic Churches; not in the General Roman Calendar.
Poet, theologian and Catholicos of the Armenians in Cilicia. He wrote the daily prayer “I Confess with Faith” said by Armenians everywhere, the long poem “Jesus the Son,” the Lament on Edessa, and the General Epistle to his flock on the duties of every state of life; and he negotiated with the Byzantine emperor Manuel I for the union of the Armenian and Greek churches on the basis of a Christology both could confess.
Why he matters: He showed that the Christological division after Chalcedon could be healed by charity and careful language, anticipating the modern Christological agreements; his prayers remain the heart of Armenian piety, Apostolic and Catholic alike.
Reading
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I Confess with Faith (Havadov Khosdovanim)St. Nerses Shnorhali · Twenty-four short prayers for the hours of the day.
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Jesus the Son (Hisus Vordi)St. Nerses Shnorhali · A verse meditation on the whole of salvation history.
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General EpistleSt. Nerses Shnorhali · His pastoral letter to every rank of the Armenian people.
Documented positions
Where this thinker stands on each dispute the test covers.