His Holiness Pope Francis on 2 February, 2020, inserted four new liturgical Memorials into the Roman Calendar: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus will be celebrated together, while the three Doctors of the Church: Gregory of Narek, John of Avila, and Hidegard of Bilgen will have their own optional memorials.
The decree of Pope Francis says “the combination of holiness with knowledge in the experience of the mystery of Jesus Christ is inextricably linked to the mystery of the Church. This link of holiness and wisdom is especially visible in those who have been given the title “Doctor of the Church”.
St. Gregory of Narek was declared “Doctor of the Church” by Pope Francis during a special commemoration of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide on 12 April, 2015 in the Basilica of St. Peter in the presence of the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia His Holiness Aram I and the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.