On November 4, the Sarukhan village of Gegharkunik province hosted two sisters who had traveled from New Zealand in search of their roots and ancestors.

As resident of Sarukhan village Khachik Yengibaryan told ArmenPress, the two sisters were Diana Hautmann and Carol Brunelo. Head of the village Vahan Gevorgyan received the guests and tried to reveal the secrets of the sisters’ past with the help of the villagers. The guests said their ancestors had migrated to Persia from their former residence in the basin of Sevan, particularly modern-day Sarukhan in 1639 as a result of the Great Migration organized by Persian King Shah-Abas. Since the tombs of Melik Manucharyans are located in Sarukhan, their descendants have come straight to Sarukhan. Based on the book “Sarukhan” by Karo Manukyan and the archival materials, it turns out that the guests’ family tree dating back to 1620 and the materials kept in the village match. The sisters of New Zealand were surprised by the revelations, according to which their ancestors, the inheritors of Melik Manuchar were teachers in the village and that the sisters are now teachers in New Zealand. After the visit to the homeland, Diana and Carol headed toward Iran. They took the advice of the villagers and will visit Khorezm, Khoy and Salmast where there was a time when there were Armenian migrants. They said they would keep the villagers updated about their revelations.