Keurkune

Keurkune

Translated and abridged by Vahe H. Apelian, from Hagop Cholakian’s volume I of the 3 volumes sequel titled “Kessab”.

Keurkune is situated a little bit further from Chakaljuk, on a small flat hilltop. The village has a wide-open view of its surroundings. A portion of the mountain range that extends from Chakaljuk comes into view and thence the village of Ekiz Olough. In the nearer front of the village is the Keurkune’s gorge (khandag) that acts as a natural barrier to the village. From the east, Keukune overlooks the village of Douzaghaj and its surrounding flatlands. Ancient artifacts and metal coins have been found in and around the village indicating that the area was inhabited long time ago.

On the eastern side of the village rises the Kalajek Hill. Kalajek means a small castle. The hill can be easily ascended from its northern side. The southern side is insurmountable. Here, a long and a narrow cave is found that is known as Ounzen Magharan (the beast’s cave). On the hilltop remnants of stonewalls have been noticed, that may indeed have been the foundations of a small castle. There are no inscriptions and no carvings. They are ordinary stones. Metal coins have been found here, and old Armenian Cilician metal coins as well.

On the southeastern side of the village, Saint Stepanos chapel stood until the beginning of the last (19^th) century. The villagers bury their deaths around the ruins of the chapel. Mrs. Sirvart Apelian, nee Chelebian, tells that the father of his grandfather was the Chapel’s last priest’s, Father Stepanos', bosom friend and was his namesake. Father Stepanos is said to have asked his friend Stepan to have him buried in front of the Chapel’s door. Father Stepanos was regarded as a saintly man. However, the aged priest disappeared. The villagers looked for him in vain. The villagers claimed that his soul still inhabits where the chapel stood once, much like the Geghedseg Bagoug of Kaladouran.

 After the disappearance of Father Stepanos the chapel remained without a priest. It remained abandoned. However, the area retained its sanctity. The building collapsed but the alter remained until the end of last (19^th) century. To protect their flocks from infectious diseases the villagers used to herd their animals through the holy site. The first goat that stepped on the alter would be sacrificed to protect the rest of the herd from infection.

Around the chapel, there are some thorny oak trees. The villagers do not use their branches for fire. Cutting branches from them is considered sin. They believe that it would bring sickness and disasters and cause incurable diseases.  Next to chapel stands the tall and thorny oak tree whose trunk can barely be held by two people. Some of the stones of the altar remain embedded in the tree trunk and are still visible. In between the crevices pilgrims placed coins and under the tree, the villagers sacrificed roasters. The surrounding Turkmen and Alevis also believed in the sanctity of the remnants of the chapel. They used to refer to the village as Ziarat Keoy (the village of the saintly place). Around the chapel stands the village’s only cemetery. A little far from the Saint Stepanos chapel stand the flatlands known as Ouren Touroy. Ancient artifacts have also found here.

Without a doubt, Keurkune is one of the earliest inhabited villages of the area. That is the conclusion one draws speaking with the villagers, studying the possible evolution of the names of the places in the village, and of the remains of the Saint Stepanos chapel. Duke Renald of ancient Antioch lists the village of Corcona at its southern side. The name reads very close to the way natives pronounce Keurkune - kourkounoo.