
Cilicia. Its Latin name is Laurus nobilis. The name conveys majesty and leaves a sort of a “nobless oblige” impression. It is indeed a majestic tree growing as tall as18 meters (59 feet). That may be the reason that those who baptized the tree with its scientific Latin name called it nobilis.



Cilicia. Its Latin name is Laurus nobilis. The name conveys majesty and leaves a sort of a “nobless oblige” impression. It is indeed a majestic tree growing as tall as18 meters (59 feet). That may be the reason that those who baptized the tree with its scientific Latin name called it nobilis.


the Kessabtsis extract the oils that make the famous Kessab soap, known as Ghar soap. Ghar means laurel in Arabic. LaurApel is one of the main manufacturers of laurel soap in Kessab. It is situated in Keurkune and it products have reached Japan. According to their Website it was Hagop Atikian who introduced the manufacture of laurel soap in Kessab in early 1940’s. He is one of the early graduates of the famed Kessab Oussoumnaserats Varjaran, the Kessab non-denominational high school, the Kessab Educational Association founded in 1922. It is the first Diaspora Armenian High School to be recognized by a foreign country, France, allowing its graduates to pursue their education in France, and many did. Hagop Atikian, as a young graduate from the University of Sorbonne, upon his return to Kessab, advocated making use of the abundant Kessab Gasli trees and to make soap from its famed laurel oil and taught the Kessabtsis the basics for soap manufacture. The manufacture was first initiated by the Churukian Family of Kessab and continues with their daughter Ani and son-in-law, Steve. Hagop Atikian is also a revered educator and author of Armenian history.


7 comments
From Athens to Rome to Cilicia & Kessab
From Athens to Rome to Cilicia to Kessab…..All knew the fragrance and charm of the laurel tree. In addition to that, Vahe incorporated and linked the historical, botanical and cultural aspects of the 'gesli' so well that he even portrayed me in the article. I am the young guy sitting on the donkey on the right with Garo Apelian and Hagop Kerbabian, partners in that summer "gesli" fruit collection and sale campaign for the preparation of the ghar soap. I encourage Vahe and all the readers in his attempt to enlighten and preserve the historic and cultural heritage of Kessab and Keorkune.
The photo in the article incidentally was in autumn of 1976, during the bloody Lebanese civil unrest, when together with Garo Apelian, we took refuge in the serenity of Keorkune’s nature and the open hearted hospitality of its people. It was like ‘heaven’ away from the ‘hell’ situation in Beirut……..
It has been only few years back…. Now this same ‘heaven’ is threatened, the serenity of nature is destroyed, the green ‘gesli’ trees are under fire, and most of all, the safety of this same hospitable villagers are endangered. They do not deserve this calamity. We pray that “heaven” will be restored in Keorkune-Kessab , and once again the ‘gesli’ leaves will proclaim the victory of peace and prosperity.
Well-Researched Article
Well-researched article; I greatly enjoyed it and learned a lot.
The article reminded me of summer camp at Okuzolug as a child. I recall washing my hands using the berries–young Kessabtzi friends demonstrated the secret of this "Ojar Dzar". I still recall the sweet fragrance. And I am glad to learn the name of the tree after five decades:"laurel tree Gasli Dzar".
Thank you, Vahe.
Gesli tsar
Thanks for the article Vahe. I have fond memories of playing under and on gesli tsars at both of my grandparents courtyards in Sev Aghpuir and Keurkeuna in the 1970s. Thank you also for using the cover of my dad's book as an illustration. When my sister Arpi and I were looking at different images to put on the cover of the book, something that will capture the essence of the book and of my father, we went through a number of images until we stumbled on that photograph. We both thought, "this is it!". When we showed it to my dad he nodded in agreement and said, "shad lav, shad lav…."
Stepan Panossian
Razmik, I am glad you liked the write-up about the Kessab Gasli.
This is personal but non-the-less I take the liberty of sharing with the readers of Keghart.com that your late father, Stepan Panossian, more known among the Kessabtsis by the moniker he inherited from his father, Onbashe, was an exceptionally talented man and true representative of the post Genocide generation born in Kessab to parents who had survived the Genocide, often time orphaned.
Stepan, for all practical purposes, had no schooling whatsoever. He was self taught. He excelled as a gifted and innovative mechanics, a civic servant and as an author. He raised you, your two brothers and sister while actively participating in many organizations including the Kessab Educational Association.
He visited Armenia numerous times to experience its emergence as a nascent independent country and wrote both in prose and poetry, not only in Armenian but also in Kessab dialect – Kesbenok – to keep the dialect alive. He was a true artist both as a mechanic and as a writer. I read numerous times the poem he dedicated to your mother, his wife Sona, and remain moved by it as I remember it.
I had a personal relationship with him, however afar, and of course through our families as well who were close friends. Seeing you as a doctoral graduate from the London School of Economics and author must have given him a lot of pride, even though he was never vocal about it.
He leaves behind a legacy of four books, cherished memories. May he rest in peace.
Thank you for commenting on that write-up.
Great Job
Vahe, I enjoyed reading the article. You did a great job. What I missed to do about the Gasli you did.
All the given explanations are authentic and fulfilling.
Onbashi (Stepan Panossian ) has written a poem, carved on flat stone under the Gasli tree of his parents' house yard. It praises that same tree with moving words. I am not sure if it is written in that book.
Stirrups
I noticed on the great picture of Garo Apelian (in the middle) & friends, that the stirrups are loops of rope adjusted for desired height and secured on the saddle – frugal, clever in its dual function as stirrups and handy rope to secure the donkey’s load as necessary.
Stirrup
Jack
This article popped out on my Facebook account page as a memory.
I read your comment again. It had never occurred as to how accurate your observation was and how "frugal and clever" was that arrangement. Yet it was just as you described and it also had one other useful function. My grandfather used to tie the free end of the stirrup to a tree or a bush giving our donkey much latitude to graze and roam around but not get lost.
Vahe
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