About Our History......

The Knanaya Christians are 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 prince Knai Thomman (in English, Thomas of Cana).

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.

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.

Contemporary Knanaya Customs and Traditions

Many of the Jewish customs are still preserved by the Knanaya people. 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 Knanaya people till this day. The bridal canopy is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony, while the dead are buried facing the east.

Knanaya Community at Present

Knanaya Christians today belong to two denominations: the first belonging to the Syriac Orthodox Church in India and second to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. A Knanaya Syriac Orthodox diocese, established in 1910, is administered by an Arch bishop who reports directly to the Patriach of Antioch of the Syrian Orthodox Church. The Knanaya Catholics and its  identity has been acknowledged by the Vatican, by instituting in 1911 a diocese only for the Knanaya Catholic Christians of Kerala. This diocese is called as the Arch Diocese of Kottayam and is in the district of Kottayam in Kerala.

Knanaya Community in the USA

Large numbers of Knanaya people live in places such as Tampa, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, New York, and California

Knai Thomman

Nasrani Menorah (aka. Mar Thoma Cross)

Mor Joseph Of Edessa