Grigori

Grigori is a term with several related uses. In apocryphal Jewish and early Christian literature, Grigori refers to the Watchers, a group of fallen angels described in 1 Enoch and related texts. According to these traditions, the Grigori descended to Earth, took human wives, and taught humanity various arts, sciences, and crafts. Their union produced the Nephilim, and their illicit knowledge contributed to humanity's corruption. The leader is often named Semyaza (or Semjaza); another prominent figure is Azazel. God punishes the Watchers by binding them and ordering archangels to seal away their progeny for a period of time.

Etymologically, Grigori is the Greek term Grégorios, from which the name Gregory is derived. In translations of the Ethiopic Book of Enoch and related literature, the term Grigori is rendered as “Watchers.” The concept does not appear in the canonical Hebrew Bible, but it influenced later Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions and has varied across sources.

In modern usage, Grigori is also a male given name in Russian and other Slavic languages, derived from the name Gregory. It is borne by several notable figures, including the mystic Grigori Rasputin and the mathematician Grigori Perelman.

The Grigori have appeared in later literature and popular culture, often as symbols of forbidden knowledge or fallen angels. The term remains primarily of interest in biblical apocrypha studies and onomastics.