A New Eastern Armenian Translation of St. Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentations Has Been Published

For nearly 30 years, Fr. Mesrop Aramian has been working on the Eastern Armenian translation of Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentations (“Narek”). The book was published with the patronage of Artur Janibekyan. Tert.am spoke with Fr. Mesrop Aramian about the process of translating the book and, more broadly, about the universal value of Narekatsi’s Book of Lamentations.

– Father Mesrop, over the course of 30 years, you translated St. Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentations from Classical Armenian into Eastern Armenian. Why and how did you decide to take on this task, considering that Eastern Armenian translations of the work already existed?

– I have been engaged in the translation of spiritual literature for more than 30 years. When I became a clergyman, the study of the theological works of the Church Fathers and translating them became central to my spiritual mission. Narekatsi’s Book of Lamentations is the crown and pinnacle of Armenian spiritual heritage, and naturally, it has always been at the heart of my translation efforts. It is a deeply complex theological-philosophical work. The Eastern Armenian translations done during the Soviet era are problematic in terms of meaning—often, the flow of the author’s thought is interrupted, meanings are distorted, and there are numerous translation errors. As a concession to the spirit of the time, attempts were made to embellish the Narek with an unacceptable rhyme scheme and poetic tone, even though it is a prose work, and only a few sections were originally composed by the author in a rhymed form.

Narekatsi’s writing is, of course, endowed with profound musicality, but it is the music of the soul, which goes beyond the boundaries of external poetic form. In short, the deviations in meaning and the embellishments and improvisations alien to Narekatsi make those translations difficult to comprehend. The Western Armenian translations done before also fall short in terms of semantic accuracy. However, no matter how critically we evaluate those translation efforts, we must acknowledge that each translator had their own discoveries and brought their own contribution to the understanding of this complex work. Naturally, I benefited from the achievements of the Narek translation tradition. The translation I have completed is semantic in nature. I tried to convey what the author is actually saying. Moreover, I strove to remain as faithful to the original text as possible.

To reach this point, I had to walk a life-long path and mature, because this book demands transformation from a person. I myself had to change in order to be worthy of completing this translation.

– In translation work, readers often sense the presence of the translator. Were you able to “lose” your ego in the process of this work?

– Translation is the art of silence. The translator’s self should not appear in the translation at all. If you can see the translator, then it is not a good translation. This is especially true for spiritual texts—works written by the breath of the Holy Spirit. One must not mix any other breath with the breath of God. And Narekatsi’s writing is uniquely divinely inspired; one must be extremely careful not to reveal one's own self in it. The translation must be nothing more than a transparent glass that enables a direct, unobstructed connection between the author and the reader. I hope I have managed to avoid my own self, but that judgment belongs to the reader.

– It’s often said that Narekatsi’s Book of Lamentations is difficult to read. Will your translation make the work more accessible?

– First of all, Narekatsi’s work is inherently complex, and no translation can avoid that complexity. To translate does not mean to oversimplify. The reader is called to make a significant effort to understand this work. It is important to follow the author’s train of thought, to feel the inner breath of the Book of Lamentations, and to partake in its purifying power. In life, nothing of true value is attained easily—especially when it comes to the spiritual. Ultimately, this book calls for our transformation. It is a book of prayer, intended for those walking the path toward perfection. It is not a table book to be read easily or to simply pass the time.

From a linguistic point of view—even many who know Armenian well feel illiterate when reading Narekatsi. We must even work on our Armenian in order to be able to read him. But that too is not enough. Without deep familiarity with the Bible and being armed with spiritual knowledge, it is difficult to truly understand Narekatsi. The Book of Lamentations sets a high standard for spiritual knowledge, and if we have chosen the upward path of perfection, we must be ready to overcome difficulties.

– Ultimately, what is the secret of the Book of Lamentations being of cosmic value?

– Narekatsi belongs to all of humanity. And when he was proclaimed a Doctor of the Universal Church, that phenomenon was simply documented. The Narek is the voice of humanity addressed to God. Narekatsi speaks on behalf of all people and insists that the true author of his work is God Himself. Narekatsi does not use the words “Armenian” or “Armenia” in the Narek, yet his work has had the deepest impact on our people’s national self-awareness. Narekatsi expanded the meaning of being Armenian, transforming it into a universal mission. Narekatsi’s Armenia is not merely a geographical location—it is a source of spiritual consciousness and a great testimony for all of humanity. For more than 1,000 years, Narekatsi has shaped us into a people of a different quality. When Narekatsi was proclaimed a Doctor of the Universal Church, we may not have realized that we too became teachers of humanity. We must reflect on what it means to be a teacher—what we are to teach humanity, and what example we must be in order to teach. If we do not see our greatness and do not recognize the nobility of our mission, we will constantly suffer from a complex of smallness.

Narekatsi’s prayers illuminate our national soul and offer a unique opportunity to see ourselves within the grand design of God’s creation and to understand the purpose and mission of our existence.

– Many powers are attributed to Narekatsi’s prayers, particularly healing properties. Do these powers work spontaneously, regardless of our will and approach?

– Our souls suffer from various illnesses. Every time a person comes into contact with sin, their soul becomes ill—sometimes in extreme ways. This book has helped many people throughout the centuries, but we must be careful not to turn this phenomenon into superstition. This book was written to be read and understood, not placed under a pillow. It possesses healing and other powerful properties, but all of this functions according to our faith. We must understand that these prayers do not work automatically—their effect greatly depends on our approach. The meanings of the prayers are very important. In order to pray, one must labor inwardly. By praying without understanding, without inner effort, we devalue the essence of prayer and offend God.

The central theme of the Narek is repentance. Without seeing one’s own sins and deeply repenting, it is impossible to walk the spiritual path. But how can a person see themselves and fully stand before God when they are constantly running from themselves? Narekatsi closes off all our paths of escape and gives us the opportunity for complete honesty. The Book of Lamentations is like a multifaceted mirror that shows you the human being from every side. If I were asked how to describe this book, I would say—it is humanity’s greatest discovery in Christian history. Believe me, human beings could have been lost in the lofty realms of theology, culture, and civilization. And in Narekatsi’s time—at the close of Christianity’s first millennium—there was an acute need to return to the Gospel roots, to rediscover the human being. Because God became human to find and redeem humanity. And Narekatsi’s discovery of the human in God’s love, his brilliant insight into the human inner world, in essence, opened a new era for humanity—a time of intimacy between the earthly and the heavenly, and of human self-knowledge.

– In our earlier conversation, you mentioned that Narekatsi is a sacred and delicate topic for both you and the book’s patron, Artur Janibekyan. Tell us about your collaboration.

– I first met Artur Janibekyan to talk about Narekatsi. Our acquaintance turned into friendship, brotherhood, and collaboration in many different areas. Narekatsi is a sacred topic for us. We want to present Narekatsi properly—both to Armenians and to the world. First and foremost, we Armenians need to rediscover Narekatsi in a new way. We are planning to present Narekatsi’s legacy in foreign languages as well. A Chinese translation of the Book of Lamentations is currently underway. Of course, publications alone are not enough to present Narekatsi to the modern person. Films, programs, and educational initiatives are also necessary. We are working in that direction as well.

– Fr. Mesrop, finally, when and where can we get the book?
– The book will be available in all bookstores after the official launch, which is scheduled for June 22.

Photos by Elen Gasparyan

https://www.tert.am/am/news/2019/06/19/mesrop-aramyan/3029480