LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND OUR NAME
The Kassotis (Greek: Κασώτης, meaning "they who hail from the island of Kasos") are a Greek phanariot noble family with a history as old as the modern Greek state.
The Kassotis family (Greek: Κασώτης) is a Dodecanesian phanariot noble house which has been involved in business and politics since the early 19th century. Originally the founder of the family Georgios Zisis was a sailor from the island of Kasos who fought in the Greek War of Independence under admiral Georgios Sachtouris. Shortly after the Battles of Samos and Gerontas in 1824 and with his family gone after the Kasos Massacre he decided to stay in Icaria and married a local woman while Sachtouris's fleet was near the island for resupplies.
According to historian Ioannis Melas in 1864, the son of Georgios Zisis who had adopted the name Hajji Theodoros Kassotis in honor of his father, was named Archon of Icaria as the primate of the local elder council during the reign of Ottoman sultan Abdulaziz, representing the island's Rum Millet (Roman Nation) and rulling as the island's semiautonomous lord with full judicial and administrative powers. After the death of Hajji Theodoros his eldest son Georgios Kassotis inherited his position along with his lands until the unification of Icaria with the Kingdom of Greece in 1912.
Hajji Theodoros and his two sons Georgios and Michael were all Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and were granted titles from the Eastern Orthodox Church such as that of Megas Oikonomos. After the Icarian union with Greece many members of the family moved to Athens and pursued careers in business and politics.
*The Phanariots are known for their immense contributions to the modern Greek state and are seen as the custodians of Greek culture who kept the Greek ethnic identity alive during the Middle-Ages.
PANTELIS KASSOTIS & HIS FAMILY TODAY
The Armorial Achievement Of Our Founder Pantelis Kassotis
Escutcheon
Per chevron Azure and Sable, a chevron Argent over the line of partition charged with a mullet of 5 between two crescents Azure; in chief two maple leaves Argent and in base one maple leaf of the same, over all a bordure wavy Argent.
Crest
A mountain proper, issuant from the top a sun Or with three stars Argent at the points of the rays.
Mantling
Azure, doubled Argent.
Motto
"A Mari Usque Ad Mare "
Symbolism
The tinctures azure and argent represent Greece and the paternal line of Pantelis Kassotis, while the three maple leaves argent represent his maternal line and the fact that he’s a third generation Canadian citizen. The two crescents azure represent the fact that he's a second son. The mountain-like geometry of the lower escutcheon represents the struggles of life and the star azure represents hope. The crest represent the mountains of Canada. The crest contains a dual meaning. Aside from the mountains of Canada it also represents the struggles of life and the dawning sun behind it represents hope. A beacon of light that shines away the darkness of night. It symbolizes the struggles that brought his family to Canada and the hope that came with their journey. The motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare " means "From Sea to Sea".
OUR STUDIO'S ARMORIAL ACHIEVEMENT
THE INSPIRATION OF OUR ICONIC LOGO
Our logo is directly derived from the personal coat of arms of our founder Pantelis Kassotis. The white and blue colors represent Greece and the paternal line of Pantelis, while the three maple leaves represent his maternal line and the fact that he’s a third generation Canadian.
The mountains and lake are derived from the crest and compartment of the arms. They represent the lakes and mountains of Canada while the dolphin supporters in the arms represent Greece and the Aegean sea. The mountain crest contains a dual meaning. It represents the struggles of life and the dawning sun behind it represents hope. A beacon of light that shines away the darkness of night. It symbolizes the struggles that brought his family to Canada and the hope that came with their journey.
The motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare " means "From Sea to Sea". While the laws of heraldry restrict armigers from copying each other's arms, they do allow room for the use of the same motto. Pantelis chose the official motto of Canada for his arms because it represents his connection to both Greece and Canada and encapsulates his family's immigrant history perfectly (from sea to sea).