The Armenian Prayer Book of St. Gregory of Narek

Speaking with God from the Depths of the Heart

God whose mercies are diverse and abundant, mighty and awesome God who loves mankind, blessed living God beyond description

Whose mere word can make anything possible

And for whose mind nothing is unthinkable.

You alone can repay the severity of thorns

With sweetness of fruit.

You who are the author of that new and

Amazing law of life;

To do good to those who hate

And to pray for those who persecute

And to seek salvation for those who wound

And ask forgiveness for those who murder.

These are the miraculous fruits you bestow,

With sweetness beyond compare

Made delectable by your divine will

And savoury by our praiseworthy lips,

Lord Christ, blessed on high

Breath of our nostrils,

And the strength of our dignity.

Yet still, human beings, earth-born prone to err

Render evil to the hand offering good,

But you, light and giver of light,

Do not heed the blasphemy, take no pleasure

In evil, do not want their destruction and

Do not wish these sinners’ death.

Neither are you vexed or agitated,

Nor do you succumb to anger.

Nor do you act rashly

Nor do you wane in love.

Nor do you waver in compassion.

Nor do you change in goodness.

Neither do you turn your back

Or turn your face away.

Rather you are light on all paths

With the sole aim of salvation.