383-385.
The year was also signalized by the death of Rev.Hohannes Der Sahagyan, pastor of the church in Nicomedia, and widely known as one of the two young men who first attached themselves to the teaching of the missionaries in Constantinople, also for his consistent piety, earnest zeal, and the severe persecutions which he suffered at different periods, as a follower of the Lord Jesus.
A scene at the ordination of a native pastor at Perchenj, a village two hours from Harpoot, graphically described by Mr.Williams, has its chronological place here.

It was in a large garden, with the pulpit under the wide-spreading branches of a mulberry-tree, and mats and carpets spread out in front.

"Around the pulpit sat the council,--lay and clerical delegates, representing most of the evangelical ministry in this part of Turkey; then the regular Protestants of Perchenj, Harpoot, and the villages about, to whom it was a 'festa,' as was evident from their dress.

Outside these were the partially committed ones, who, though they did not 'dress up' for the occasion, seemed to have taken the day for it; and again, outside that company, were men drawn in by the interest of the occasion from their work, with their field dresses on, tools in hand, leaning on their long handled spades, bending forward to catch question and answer, wholly unconscious of the picturesque finish they gave to the scene.
"In the afternoon exercises, the pastor of Ichme and the pastor of Harpoot took prominent parts.

The same was expected also of the pastors from Arabkir and Shapik, but unfortunately they were not present.