KEA of Los Angeles


Keeping Track Of Our Past..



The Armenians of Kessab and the surrounding villages are the remainders of migrants who came from the region of Antioch. The migration of the Armenians to the region increased in the 14th and the 15th centuries, during the Memluk and the Ottoman periods, in an attempt to avoid persecution. In 1915, the genocide of the Armenians in Kessab region started from Karadouran. The Armenians were deported in two directions: one towards the desert of Deir ez-Zor and the other towards the south to the desert of Jordan. Almost five thousand Armenians were killed during this deportation process. Some died in Jeser Al Shoughour, some in Hama or Homs while others on the way to Damascus or Jordan. The majority of the refugees were killed in the desert of Der Zor. Far more casualties ocurred in the actual Armenian territory, at the hands of the Turks.


After the cease-fire, the Armenians who survived the genocide

returned to Kesab in a process that lasted till 1920.





Ensures Our Future.



Currently, there are around 3000 Armenians in Kesab and the surrounding villages, mainly involved in agriculture. They have their own dialect of the Armenian language, which is still in use even among new generations. The number of Kesab visitors usually grows during summers, especially in the month of August, when a lot of Armenians choose this mountainous town, to celebrate the Assumption of Virgin Mary. Many Armenian scout troops visit Kesab to attend their summer camping programs. During thae last 20 years, the town has come of age, booming with the construction of several high-class hotels, luxurious residential buildings and the renovation of existing churches. Many modern and attractive hotels were built during the recent years. Kesab is famous for its high-quality laurel soaps and tasty apples.





KEA OF LOS ANGELES





PO Box 371507 Reseda, CA 91335