The year 2023 marks a milestone in the life of a little-known but tremendously influential figure in the history of worldwide Christianity: the 850th anniversary of the death of Nerses of Kla (1102-1173), canonized by the Armenian Apostolic Church as St. Nerses Shnorhali, meaning “the Graceful.” A medieval pioneer in the arts of Christian music and poetry, and a leading thinker in the theology of the Christian East, Nerses was also a figure of international standing in the dialogue among Christian churches separated at the time by vast geographic and cultural differences.

His humane, peace-oriented approach to the issues and controversies of his day is a model of effective diplomacy—and holds vital lessons for today, both for the quest for Christian unity, and for religious and ethnic conflicts that disfigure the modern world.

To honor St. Nerses the Graceful’s place in Christian history, and to promote a broader appreciation for his achievements and influence, the Apostolic See of St. Peter, through its Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and Dicastery for Eastern Churches, together with the Catholicosate of All Armenians, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, and the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Cilicia, will mount a series of commemorative events in 2023.

The commemorative events will include:

• An international conference at the prestigious Pontifical Oriental Institute, gathering some two dozen leading scholars and churchmen, from various countries and backgrounds, for two days of intensive, high-level discussion of the monumental legacy of St. Nerses Shnorhali.

• Two concerts of St. Nerses Shnorhali’s hymns and liturgical music—a public event at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (December 1) and a private event in the Sistine Chapel (December 2)—will bring Shnorhali’s legacy of spiritual music to a worldwide audience.

• An ecumenical prayer service at the imposing Basilica of St. Peter with His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church; His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics.