The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-10
Relative of Christ Living in Asia Minor

BERNARD Galura in Washington Post.)
High up, on the western slope of
Mount Sipan, a lofty elevation of a
spur of the TaurOs mountains, is a
small hamlet inhabited by Armenian
Christians, which claims the honor
of harboring a direct descendant of
Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, the mother
of Christ. The papers of a German
traveller, who made the discovery, pre-
sent the records of the family of
Elizabeth in rather matter-of-fact
manner. On a tour through Asia Minor
the German was for several weeks con-
fined by illness in the house of an Ar
menian patriarch by the name of Abb
ner. During his enforced stay he SO
endeared himself to the host and his
family that they revealed to him the
secret. Abner pointed to a young man
of about Is years, who was passing the
house at some distance.
Would you believe me if l told you
that this young man is a blood rela-
tive of Christi"
What" exclaimed the traveller,
starting up. How do you know this?"
Il don't know it," replied the host
sOlemnly, but 1 believe it, because I
know the family and their record. For
centuries they have been living in this
section of Asia Minor, and have al
ways been known as the noblest and
best of men and women. l would as
soon doubt the evidences of my senses
as to question their claim to descent
from Elizabeth
Record Is Simple.
"And these records of which you
speak, can they be SEEM"
. I,r,t .
! is very simple. 1t gives a short ac-
count of each head Of the family, and
the date Of his death. He is always
named Johannes, as God himself COM
manded Elizabeth, through the angel
Gabriel, to name her son. John the
Baptist had been married, and two
children, the elder being named johann
mes, who is recorded in the annals Of
the family as Johannes /. His son,
Johannes II, was a learned man, and
a physician. In 101 he moved to Da-
mascus, where the Christian religion
had already gained a strong foothold.
Seeing the rapid spread of the religion
of Christ, to whom he was related, ne
conceived the idea of founding and
perpetuating his family. He laid down
certain rules for the preservation of
the family history. Accordingly, the
eldest child should always be named
Johannes, and, if daughter, Johanna.
If there were only daughters, the one
who married first and had a son. should
name him Johannes. and each descen-
dant should have number. His
grandfather had the distinguished title
of John the Baptizer among the Chris
tians. He. therefore. began the NUM-
bers with his father noting him in the
record as Johannes ]. The young man
who has just passed our house is JO-
hannes XXI. His grandfather had
three daughters, but no sons. Accord
ing TO the laws of the family, she was
called Johanna ". She married "a
worthy young man, now dead. and had
six children. But we will call on the
family, if you like They are very
simple in their habits, and above all,
shun notOriety This has been their
chief trait at all times. | know that
you will respect the privacy of this no.
BILE family, and will not expose them
| to the inquisitiveness of a vulgar and
sensational world"
The traveller gladly awaited himself of
the opportunity, and it was decided to
call the following evening. Arriving
at-the house, they were received by the
same young man they had seen the
day before. and the German had
nearer look at him. He was about IS,
anu SlTOuSiS Dunl. HIS HSuIe was
graceful and tall for his age, but the
most striking feature was his large,
lustrous, black eyes.
Old Abner presented the stranger and
asked for Johanna. Young Johannes
asked them to be seated and went in
search of his mother. In few min
utes she came out, and Abner present
ed the traveller Being again seated,
general conversation followed in the
course of which Johanna asked many
questions about the strangers country
in a manner which showed that she
was well informed. The German has
little to say concerning her, but gives
his impression of her in the following
short and striking description:
LAS / looked i'm her face l saw de-
picted there sublime majesty. trans
cendent beauty, and angelic inno-
cence."
They tell me- said the German.
finally introducing the subject nearest
to his heart, that you are descen-
dant of Elizabeth, the cousin Df The
Virgin Mary
Withheld knowledge from Strangers
I'VE are really descended from Eliz-
abeth," answered Johanna, pointing at
the same time 10 her son. land hsve
had no difficulty in keeping our record.
thanks to the protection of an all-ws y
God. Few strangers pass through hes e,