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NAREK THERAPY: ARMENIANS READ MEDIEVAL MONK'S VERSES AS CURE FOR AILMENTS
HEALTH | 09.03.15 | 16:01
Satenik Tovmasyan
ArmeniaNow intern
It may be inexplicable after all, but Dr. Armen Nersisyan says reading
a book written by a medieval Armenian monk has proved to have a
healing effect on body and mind.
The Book of Lamentations, a long mystical poem in 95 sections written
by Saint Gregory of the Monastery of Narek (951-1003 AD), is familiar
to virtually all Armenians, yet few can say they fully understand
this piece of literature that uses Old Armenian, Grabar.
Giving up his professional scope of activity, Dr. Nersisyan,
a professor of psychiatry, spent the past 20 years of his life
researching and promoting the so-called Narek therapy, which uses
the book (often referred to as simply Narek in honor of the author)
for medical purposes.
Dr. Nersisyan claims that the effectiveness of Narek treatment is
based on the patient's faith in the power of word and prayer.
"It cures only those who believe in the biblical efficacy. Narek
placates people's souls, gives relief to their emotions and feelings,
as well as has a soporific effect. While hearing Narek, the patient
feels calmness and relief, which can be temporarily disturbed by
tension or anxiety. Unconscious thoughts and emotions may arise
causing physical and spiritual anxiety. Finally, all this leads to
repentance, contributing to the relief of physical and spiritual pain,"
Dr. Nersisyan says.
The researcher adds that to get a stronger effect people should not
just read, but also listen to the book. "This is a therapy method
based on verbal impact, that's why patients should listen to rather
than just read the prayers for the sake of their quick recovery."
According to the specialist, in some ways Narek therapy is much
more effective than psychoanalysis, which is a longer and very often
ineffective method. "People sometimes mistake Narek for hypnotherapy,
actually they are completely different things.
The latter impacts people's subconscious, while the concept of Narek's
word requires a sober mind."
Dr. Nersisyan gives a list of many diseases which can be fully or at
least partially treated using the method, depending on the patients'
attitude. Among them, he says, are schizophrenia, Hepatitis C,
periodic disease, stress symptoms and depression.
Here is what a 27-year-old man suffering from schizophrenia wrote after
therapy sessions. "At first I had terrible headaches and would stop
listening as I could not stand the constant critical voices inside me,
but after some attempts I pulled through and now I feel much better."
There are numerous testimonies given by patients, that's why Dr.
Nersisyan says he is going to write a book which will consist of his
patients' testimonies that he says once again prove the wizard power
of Narek.
Remarkably, last month Pope Francis declared St. Gregory of Narek
a doctor of the Universal Church. Also in February Narek's name was
included in Rome's martirology (the list of popular saints) as a monk
and teacher.
According to the representative of the Catholic Church, Fr. Petros
Vardabyan, Narek's prayers aren't the only ones in their kind. The
church breviary also contains other prayers that have a healing effect.
Fr. Petros says, however, that Narek should not be turned into a
fetish. "Only God and faith in God can cure people and not the book
or a person," he says.
http://armenianow.com/society/health/61265/armenia_health_narek_therapy_psychotherapy_armen_n ersisyan
HEALTH | 09.03.15 | 16:01
Satenik Tovmasyan
ArmeniaNow intern
It may be inexplicable after all, but Dr. Armen Nersisyan says reading
a book written by a medieval Armenian monk has proved to have a
healing effect on body and mind.
The Book of Lamentations, a long mystical poem in 95 sections written
by Saint Gregory of the Monastery of Narek (951-1003 AD), is familiar
to virtually all Armenians, yet few can say they fully understand
this piece of literature that uses Old Armenian, Grabar.
Giving up his professional scope of activity, Dr. Nersisyan,
a professor of psychiatry, spent the past 20 years of his life
researching and promoting the so-called Narek therapy, which uses
the book (often referred to as simply Narek in honor of the author)
for medical purposes.
Dr. Nersisyan claims that the effectiveness of Narek treatment is
based on the patient's faith in the power of word and prayer.
"It cures only those who believe in the biblical efficacy. Narek
placates people's souls, gives relief to their emotions and feelings,
as well as has a soporific effect. While hearing Narek, the patient
feels calmness and relief, which can be temporarily disturbed by
tension or anxiety. Unconscious thoughts and emotions may arise
causing physical and spiritual anxiety. Finally, all this leads to
repentance, contributing to the relief of physical and spiritual pain,"
Dr. Nersisyan says.
The researcher adds that to get a stronger effect people should not
just read, but also listen to the book. "This is a therapy method
based on verbal impact, that's why patients should listen to rather
than just read the prayers for the sake of their quick recovery."
According to the specialist, in some ways Narek therapy is much
more effective than psychoanalysis, which is a longer and very often
ineffective method. "People sometimes mistake Narek for hypnotherapy,
actually they are completely different things.
The latter impacts people's subconscious, while the concept of Narek's
word requires a sober mind."
Dr. Nersisyan gives a list of many diseases which can be fully or at
least partially treated using the method, depending on the patients'
attitude. Among them, he says, are schizophrenia, Hepatitis C,
periodic disease, stress symptoms and depression.
Here is what a 27-year-old man suffering from schizophrenia wrote after
therapy sessions. "At first I had terrible headaches and would stop
listening as I could not stand the constant critical voices inside me,
but after some attempts I pulled through and now I feel much better."
There are numerous testimonies given by patients, that's why Dr.
Nersisyan says he is going to write a book which will consist of his
patients' testimonies that he says once again prove the wizard power
of Narek.
Remarkably, last month Pope Francis declared St. Gregory of Narek
a doctor of the Universal Church. Also in February Narek's name was
included in Rome's martirology (the list of popular saints) as a monk
and teacher.
According to the representative of the Catholic Church, Fr. Petros
Vardabyan, Narek's prayers aren't the only ones in their kind. The
church breviary also contains other prayers that have a healing effect.
Fr. Petros says, however, that Narek should not be turned into a
fetish. "Only God and faith in God can cure people and not the book
or a person," he says.
http://armenianow.com/society/health/61265/armenia_health_narek_therapy_psychotherapy_armen_n ersisyan