Knanaya
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Knanaya Christians (قينان "Kanaanite Christians" or "Qenanite Christians") are Jewish Christians from Kerala, India.[1] Their heritage and culture is Malayalee and Indian, origin and descent Jewish, and their religion Christianity. [1] They belong to the Nasrani community of Syriac Christian tradition from Kerala. [1]
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[edit] 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) [2]. They may also be related to the Kananaya (Jewish Zealots). 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. [2] The event has been recorded on copper plates given to the community. [2]
Before the arrival of the Knanaya people, the early Nasrani people in the Malabar coast included some local converts and many converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the Babylonian exile and after. [3]. 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. [3].
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 to Cana 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. [4]
[edit] Contemporary Knanaya customs and traditions
Many of the Jewish customs are still preserved by the Knanaya people. [5] 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). [5] This tradition of Pesaha appam is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. [5] The bridal canopy is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony, while the dead are buried facing the east. [5] 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. [5]
[edit] Knanaya community at present
Knanaya Christians today belong to three denominations: the first belonging to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the second to the Syriac Orthodox Church in India.[6] The third is Knanaya Pentecostals. They are from both the above-mentioned denominations. Knananites are very much conscious about their origin and up until today safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community. 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 Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala. [6] This diocese is called the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and is in the district of Kottayam in Kerala. [6]
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
In all over 250,000 Knanaya Christian Jews continue in the ancient Hebrew-Christian tradition.
Today Knanaya people are found in all major cities of India. Large numbers of Knanaya people live in places such as Tampa, South Florida, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ohio, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Toronto, Washington D.C., Boston and Minneapolis. Also there is a growing Knanaya community in the U.K mainly in Greater London and Manchester. Knanaya people are also seen in the countries of the Middle East, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. There are conventions they attend to get together and plan for the future of the Knanaya community. The most recent North American Knanaya Catholic Convention was held in San Jose, California in July 2006.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970
- ^ a b c Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973
- ^ a b Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973
- ^ Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973
- ^ a b c d e Weil,S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973; Vellian, J 1988
- ^ a b c Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001
[edit] References & Bibliography
- Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, 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. [ISBN 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.
