In 1469 in the town of Mardin there was an epidemic of smallpox, which caused many deaths. He thus describes one of the victims: “A youth beautiful to see, the image of the sun; his brows were arches; his eyes like lamps guiding him by their light. This lovely child lay on the ground, writhing piteously, looking to right and left, while the terrible Angel of Death was busily engaged in loosing the cords of his soul. Then the boy cried, saying: ‘Pity me and save me from the hands of this holy angel, for I am young.’ Then he turned to his father, and asking help from him, said: ‘There are a thousand desires in my heart and not one of them fulfilled.’ “The father answered: ‘I would not begrudge gold and silver for thy redemption; but these are of no avail. I would willingly give my life for thine.’ In the end the light of the child’s life was extinguished; the lovely hue of his face faded; his sea-like eyes lost their lustre; the power of his graceful arm was cut off.” Here is a translation in verse of a poem on a mysterious Flower:— “All the lovely flowers that were One by one have left and gone, One Flower too there was that went Mourned and wept by every one. Sweetest fragrance had that Flower, Scent that filled the earth and air, So that all the flowers of earth Sought in love this Blossom fair. Some for this sweet Flow’ret’s sake Paled and withered languidly; Many for this Flow’ret’s sake Blossomed like the almond tree. God Himself had sent that Flower, But all did not know its worth. He that gave took back His own, Many wept upon the earth. And the Flower went to a place Where all flowers rejoiced and smiled; Flowers of many a brilliant hue With its sweetness it beguiled. From its beauty other flowers Borrowed lustre, and they glowed; Every blossom in its kind To that Flower knelt and bowed.” Grigoris of Aghtamar was born about 1418 and was Catholicos of Aghtamar, an island in the Lake of Van, which has picturesque surroundings fit to inspire a poet; so that it is not surprising that our Catholicos became a singer animated by poetic fire, the exponent of love and beauty—of the Nightingale and the Rose.