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Knanaya Christians (قينان "Kanaanite Christians" or "Qenanite Christians") are Jewish Christians from Kerala, South India. Their heritage and culture is Malayalee and South Indian, origin and descent Jewish, and their religion Christianity. They belong to the Nasrani community of Syriac Christian tradition from Kerala. (Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970)
History
The Knanaya Christians are believed to be the descendants of 72 Judeo-Christian families who migrated from Edessa (or Urfa), the first city state that embraced Christianity, to the Malabar coast in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant Knai Thomman (in English, Thomas of Cana). They may also be related to Canaanites. They consisted of 400 people men, women and children, from various Syriac-Jewish clans. Included in the group was a Syriac Orthodox Bishop(Mor Joseph of Urfa), priests and deacons. They sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King David. The Syriac-Jews were granted permission to engage in trade and settle down in Kodungallur by the then ruler of Malabar, Cheraman Perumal. The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community. (Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973)
Before the arrival of the Knanaya people, the early Nasrani people in the Malabar coast included mostly local Brahmin converts and some converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the Babylonian exile and after. They came mostly from the Northern Kingdom of Israel. According to tradition, Knanaya Christians are also known as Southists (Thekkumbhagar in Malayalam) as they hailed from the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the Kingdom of Judah. The rivalry between the northern kingdoms and the Kingdom of Judah since Old Testament times led to the difference among the Nasranis as Northists and Southists. This led the Knanaya people to become an endogamous people within the Nasrani community. (Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973)
The Hebrew term Knanaya or K'nanaim, also known as Kanai or Qnana'im, (for singular Kanna'im or Q'nai) means "Jealous ones for God". The K'nanaim people are the biblical Jews referred to as Zealots (overly jealous and with zeal), who came from the southern province of Israel. They were deeply against the Roman rule of Israel and fought against the Romans for the sovereignty of the Jews. During their struggle the K'nanaim people become followers of the Jewish sect led by 'Yeshua Nasrani' (Jesus the Nazarene). After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in 33 CE, the Knanaya intensified their struggle against the Roman rule.
In 70 CE, hundreds of Q’nanaim zealots evaded capture from the Romans and took shelter in the fortress at Masada. In 72 CE, after a two year siege, 960 knanaya zealots unwilling to give up to the romans killed themselves before the romans could capture them. This act of martyrdom is still commemorated in Israel. In 345 CE a small group of K'nanaim merchants travelled to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Their descendants are today known in Kerala as Knanaya Nasranis. (Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973)
Contemporary Knanaya customs and traditions
Many of the Jewish customs are still preserved by the Knanaya people. The symbol of the Knanaya people is the Nasrani Menorah, which is modeled on the Jewish menorah. On the night of passover the Knanaya people have Pesaha-appam (unleavened passover bread) along with Pesaha pal (passover coconut milk). This tradition of Pesaha appam is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. The bridal canopy is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony, while the dead are buried facing the east. The Knanaya people and Nasranis as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as Cochin Jews) until the Portuguese inquisition of the Jews and Nasranis in the early 1500s. (Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988)
Knanaya community at present
Knanaya Christians today belong to three denominations: the first belonging to the Syriac Orthodox Church in India and second to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The third is Knanaya Pentacostals. They are from both the above-mentioned denominations. They have converted to Protestant belief as the Syriac Orthodox. But still many of them are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from the same background. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an archbishop who reports directly to the Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrian Orthodox Church. The Knanaya Catholics and their Jewish identity have been acknowledged by the Vatican under Pope Pius X, by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Jewish (Catholic) Christians of Kerala. This diocese is called the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and is in the district of Kottayam in Kerala. The Knanaya people maintain many of the Jewish traditions to this day. (Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001)
The approximate population of Knanaya Christians as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)
- Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians: 100,000
- Knanaya Syrian Malabar Catholic Christians: 140,000
- Knanaya Pentacostals:10,000
Large numbers of Knanaya people live in places such as Tampa, South Florida, Chicago, New York, and California. There are conventions they attend to get together and plan for the future of the Knanaya community.
References & Bibliography
- Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 818713206X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B.N.K. Press
- Vellian Jacob (2001) Knanite community: History and culture; Syrian church series; vol.XVII; Jyothi Book House, Kottayam
- "In Universi Cristiani" (Latin Text of the Papal erection of the Knanaya Diocese of Kottayam)
- Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.
- Koder S. (1973) 'History of the Jews of Kerala".The St.Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India,Ed. G. Menachery.
- Vellian, J (1988) Marriage Customs of the Knanites, Christian Orient, 9, Kottayam.
- Weil,S. (1982) "Symmetry between Christians and Jews in India: The Cananite Christians and Cochin Jews in Kerala. in Contributions to Indian Sociology,16.
- Jessay, P.M. (1986) "The Wedding Songs of the Cochin Jews and of the Knanite Christians of Kerala: A Study in Comparison." Symposium.
- James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".
- Menachery G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol.I, The Nazranies, Ollur, 1998. 81-87133-05-8.
- Poomangalam C.A (1998) The Antiquities of the Knanaya Syrian Christians; Kottayam, Kerala.
- Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd.
See also
External links
Jewish history | Jewish Christian topics | Kerala society
قينان | Knananiten | Knanayas
"Knanaya"