Is Grigor Narekatsi a Mystic?

Abstract

The article comes to prove the thesis that considering Gr. Narekatsi a mystic with no restraint would contradict the essence and logic  of “The Book of  Tragedy” as the book’s interpretation of Man-God relation does not harmonize withthe mystic conception of re-living  the presence of God only conceptually. Narekatsi’s ultimate aim is to reach earthly soul-saving now and here via Man’s and Humanity’s spiritual and moral self-perfection. Thus, by his “The Book of Tragedy” Narekatsi comes into contact with mysticism as much as it is present in the everyday conception of religious belief and life whatsoever.

In this regard, the tragedy portrayed in «The Book of Tragedy» is multi-layered; on the one hand, it reflects human alienation from Cod and overcoming these controversies on the basis of unhindered reasonable faithas the true way of human perfection and redemption, on the other hand, the reflection of mental dualism: the conflict between good and evil,  human and divine.

The authors shed light on the proper philosophical-religious aspects of this many-sided work for the first time stressing its novelty, namely the attempts of improving the doctrine of the church, the reform-minded approach to the interpretation of the problem of interrelation between faith and reason, a human and Cod.