Saint Narses

ST. NERSES THE GREAT (329-373)

Nerses Bartev was born in the year 329 A.D. He was the great-grandson of Saint Gregory the Enlightener. He was raised in a home where serving Our Lord was natural way to live and education was important. Then he was sent to Caesarea to further his linguistic as well as biblical, theological education. In the year 353, Nerses was only 23 when he was ascended to the throne as catholicos and the head of the Armenian Church. St. Nerses was quickly respected for his learning, experience, and piety, despite his young age. Possessing strong convictions and encouraged by friendly sympathetic surroundings, Nerses undertook the difficult task of reforms. And a new period of moral and religious reformation began. He tried to introduce in Armenia what he had seen and learned in Caesarea and other parts of the Byzantine Empire. He realized that Christianity and the Church of Armenia were not yet achieved spiritual, religious, educational as well as organizational solidarity so necessary to secure stability of the country, unity of its followers and strength of the homeland. Nerses recognized the dangers and evaluated the need. Before his very eyes stood a Christian church surrounded by a sea of pagan tradition. Ancient customs and traditions in the course of centuries had become so immutable that they would not easily yield to the new Christian religion and ethics. A return to these customs was a natural inclination and offered great temptation to nobility as well as to the peasantry. As catholicos, one of St. Nerses’ greatest accomplishments was the first ever council of bishops in Armenia, the Council of Ashdishad (364-5), where canons and rules were drawn up and developed concerning ecclesiastic-administrative church laws; (b) the role of the church in civic and moral aspects of public life, including laws to improve social social conditions and secure the sanctity of family.

The Apostolic and Nicene creeds were the basis of all deliberations and resolutions. The primary aim of St. Nerses was the happiness and comfort of his people and their relationship with God. He had over two thousand monasteries built to accommodate those seeking monastic life. But his concerns went beyond the purely religious. He cared deeply for the basic needs of the people. For the first time, homes were built for the elderly, for widows, orphans, and the poor. St Nerses donated his own land, and convinced others to do the same, for the maintenance of these homes. St. Nerses also founded schools and had safe and secure resting places built for travelers and pilgrims. He became well known for his many benevolent and spiritual works. He is remembered as one of the initiators of the national revival, social justice and of contributor religious ecclesiastical life, which was culminated in the Golden Age of the Armenian Literature, in fifth century. He also advised and even admonished those kings and nobles who were not living the life of true Christians. St. Nerses Bartev richly deserved the title of Great by his deeds and accomplishments and became illuminator of hearts as St. Gregory had been illuminator of souls. He died in 373 A.D.