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The Kurekhyan family is one of the lineages established in Rind, with roots stretching back to the village of Dsegh in the Lori region of northern Armenia. For decades, its representatives have contributed to both the local community and matters of national importance.
The “Chopurants” Lineage of Lori and Tumanyan’s “Harachank”
The founder of the lineage in Rind was Kurekh (Kyurekh), son of Hovhannes, but in Dsegh, their ancestors were known by the name Chopurants. This name has been immortalized in the biographical and literary materials of the Great Armenian Poet, Hovhannes Tumanyan.
In 1886, upon returning to Lori, Hovhannes Tumanyan was inspired by the figures of the Chopur sons, who had rebelled against the injustices of the Tsarist regime.
They were folk avengers who found shelter in the mountains, fighting against injustice and supporting the impoverished peasantry. This freedom-loving spirit and the dramatic fate of the Chopurants lineage became the primary inspiration for Tumanyan’s famous poem, “Harachank” (The Groan).
The Journey to Rind: From Dsegh to Vayots Dzor
In the 1920s, Hovhannes Chopurants moved from Dsegh to Nakhichevan. However, the extreme heat of the region forced the family to seek a new place to live. They moved up to the village of Khachik, then to Areni. It was in Areni that Kurekh, Hovhannes’s son, got married, and eventually, the family permanently settled in Rind.
Kurekh had seven sons (Hovhannes, Mkrtich, Manuk, Arakel, Enok, Yeghia, Vasil) and two daughters (Nubar, Yeghnar). This large family is the reason why members of the same lineage today carry different surnames: Manukyan, Mkrtchyan, Hovhannesyan, Arakelyan, and Kurekhyan (Kyurekhyan). The family also traditionally included natural healers who used their knowledge to treat fellow villagers.
Prominent Representatives of the Lineage
Many members of the Kurekhyan lineage have been active both in Rind and beyond the community, representing various professional fields:
- Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan: The most prominent representative of the lineage (son of Mkrtich, grandson of Tevos). He led the Diocese of Syunik for many years and, since 2010, has been the Primate of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor.
- Vasil Kurekhyan: A long-time geography teacher at the Rind secondary school. His son, Aram Kurekhyan, served as the head of Rind village from 2005 to 2006.
- Hasmik Manukyan: Granddaughter of Razmik; member of the Union of Artists of Russia and Associate Professor at the Ural State University of Architecture and Art.
- Susanna Kurekhyan: Granddaughter of Andranik, known for her powerful and incomparable vocal talents.
Thus, the Chopurants (Kurekhents) lineage, starting from Dsegh, Lori, found its final home in Rind after a long journey of resettlement. Over the decades, its members have been deeply involved in the social, educational, and spiritual life of the village, securing their place in the multilayered history of Rind.