Knanaya History
Knai Thoma
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The Knanaya Christians are descendants of 72 families who migrated from Aramaic-speaking regions around Israel and Syria to the Malabar coast in AD 345, under the leadership of a merchant Knai Thomman. They consisted of 400 people men, women and children, from various clans. They sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship with the flag of King David. The families 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. Before the arrival of the Knanaya people, the early Nasrani people in the Malabar coast included some local converts and largely converted Jewish people who had settled in Kerala during the Babylonian exile and after. They came mostly from the Northern kingdoms of Israel. According to tradition, Knanaya Christians are also known as Southeast’s (Thekkumbhagar in Malayalam) as they had settled down on the south bank of the river in Kodungallur. There existed rivalry between the communities settled on the north and south banks of the river and this led the Knanaya people to choose endogamy in order to preserve their ancestral ties to the Middle East. |
Our Leaders
H.H. Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas
Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church
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HH Mor Ignatios Zakka I Iwas was born in 1932 in Mosul, Iraq. He completed his high school education at St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox School and entered the Mor Aphrem theological school at Mosul in 1946 where he completed his education in 1954. He was ordained priest and became a monk in 1947. Later he completed a Masters degree in English at City University of New York and a Master's degree in Pastoral Theology at General Theological Seminary, New York. He was ordained Metropolitan Mor Severius Zakka by Patriarch Ya`qub III in 1963. In 1964, Mor Severious discovered the remains of St. Thomas in the sanctuary wall of the church at Mosul. In 1969, Mor Severious became the Metropolitan of Baghdad, where he also served as the Head of Syriac Studies and a member of the educational academy. Mor Severius also served as a member of the World Council of Churches. On September 14, 1980, Mor Severius was consecrated the Patriarch of Antioch by name Ignatius Zakka I, in a rite officiated by Catholicos of the East, Mor Baselius Paulos II along with the archbishops of the Holy Synod. |
His Excellency Mor Severios Geevarghese
(1851-1927)
(First Metropolitan of the Knanaya Diocese)
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Mor Severios Geevarghese was the first Metropolitan of the Knanaya diocese. He was born in 1851 to Kasiso Philipose of the Edavazhickal family. After his primary education Geevarghese prepared to become a priest. He was the 10th priest of the famous Edavazhickal family that has produced many gifted men, most well known among whom is the Church historian E.M. Philip.
On 31st August 1910,
Patriarch Mor Ignatius `Abded Aloho ordained Fr. Geevarghese
Edavazhickal as the first Knanaya Bishop with the name Mor Severios.
Mor Severios administered the Knanaya diocese residing at Kottayam
Valiyapalli. He believed in the value of education and introduced
several programs for the education of the Knanaya students. He founded
mission centers at Chingavanam, Kallissery and Kattodu. The construction
of Chingavanam seminary began in his period. This was later to become
the 'Mor Ephrem Seminary' and the Knanaya Bishop's House. |
Mor
Diascoros Thomas, the second bishop of the Knanaya Diocese,
was ordained as Metropolitan at Jerusalem in 1926. Initially he assisted Mor
Severiose Geevarghese Metropolitan and took over the administration of the
diocese at the demise of Mor Severious. He was from the famous Thervaladi
family descendants of the Knights of Thekkumkoor royal family. His mother
belonged to the famous Ottathycal family. Construction of the Ephraim Seminary building was completed
during his time. The Vanitha Mandiram (Kurichy) and Mor Severious High
School (Ranny) were established during his time. The famous Patriarchal Bull
No.42, known as the "Magna Carta" of Knanaya Diocese, was issued during Mor
Severious' time. This bull proclaimed that Knanaya Diocese always shall be
under the Holy throne of Antioch and that they have the right to get bishops
ordained by the Patriarch. Mor Diascoros joined Roman Catholic Church in
November 1939.
For 12 years (1939-1951) after Mor Diascoros, Knanaya Diocese continued
without a bishop. During this period Very Rev. Thamarappallil Abraham
Cor-Episcopa and Very Rev. Purackal Thomas Cor-Episcopa served as
administrators of the Diocese.
His Excellency Abraham Mor
Clemis,
Chief Metropolitan of the East
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Mor Clemis established himself as the veritable
leader of not only the Knanaya Community but also of the Malankara
Church. As a result he was elected as the Malankara Metropolitan in
1957. In 1982, recognizing his leadership and wisdom, His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, decorated Mor Clemis with the highest honor a bishop can receive, the title of “Kubernithi Hakimo” which means ‘Wise Captain.’. Again in1989 His Holiness bestowed on Mor Clemis the position of “the Chief Metropolitan of the East” recognizing his continued contributions to the whole Indian Christian Community. It is a position similar to that of the Catholicose. Mor Clemis made ecclesiastical visits to Ethiopia, Russia, the Middle East and many European countries. In 1956 the late Emperor Haile Selasse of Ethiopia was the guest of honor of Mor Clemis. at Mar Ephraim Seminary, the headqurters of the Knanaya Diocese in Chingavanam. Clemis Thirumeni was a key player in the Kerala politics. His political influence was so powerful that even Mrs. Indira Gandhi went to his seminary in Chingavanam in 1970 to ask for his support as well as his advice. In 1997 none other than the then Vice-President of India Mr. K.R. Narayanan inaugurated the bishop’s Jubilee celebrations. The Community celebrated the Episcopal Jubilee of Mor Clemis on a grand scale in 2000 and His Holiness the Patriarch blessed the occasion with his presence. Mor Clemis was a sage and a saint. He was a sage because he gave wise counsel not only to the religious community but also to many politicians in Kerala who sought his counsel. He was a peace maker as well as a king maker. He mediated and settled many disputes between the two factions of the Jacobite churches as well as helped ease tensions between Hindus and Christians at several occasions. This he achieved by his strong belief in religious tolerance and Christian principles. |
Mor Clemis could also be called a saint because he showed qualities of a saint such as concern for the betterment and wellbeing of the poor, fought against social injustice and political oppression. He practiced chastity and poverty. He had big calluses on knuckles and on his knees due to prostration during his prayers at several times during the day and at night. According to the Orthodox Christian faith a saint is also one whose soul is gone to heaven. A few minutes before his death, the bishop started a prayer with the people in the hospital and when he was praying the Lord’s prayer, he breathed his last and entered into his heavenly rest on September the 29th, 2002 at the ripe old age of 84.
Knanaya Arch Bishop H.G. Kuriakose Mor Severios
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His Grace Mor Severios
Kuriakose, ordained Metropolitan for the Knanaya diocese by the
Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas on 15th January
2004, is the fourth Metropolitan of the Knanaya diocese after its
formation in 1910. The Consecration ceremony of the Metropolitan was at
the St.Peter and St.Paul Cathedral in the Monastery of St.Aphrem at
Ma'arrat Seydnaya, Damascus, Syria. His Grace assumed the seat following
the demise of the Chief Metropolitan of the East, Mor Clemis Abraham, in
September 2002 at the culmination of one of the longest reigns in Indian
Christendom. Born into a family of priests on May 21, 1959, Mor Sevarios Kuriakose (Kuriakose Abraham) is the first among seven children of Edavazhikkal Kunjavarachan and Mariamma of Kottayam. His Grace is the second Metropolitan from the famous Edavazhikkal family; his predecessor being H.G. Gevargheese Mor Sevarios who is also the first Metropolitan of the Knanaya Jacobite Syrian diocese. The well known Church historian E M Philip who was the secretary to Malankara Metropolitan Pulikottil Joseph Mor Dionysius II, also belongs to the Edavazhikkal family. A post-graduate in History and English, he gained his degree in theology from Menooth University, Ireland, and PG in the same subject from Pourasthya Vidya Peeth, Vadavathoor, Kottayam. It was on 4 February 1990, Kuriakose Abraham has been ordained Kassisso by the Chief Metropolitan of the East (late) Mor Clemis Abraham, assisted by Metropolitans late Mor Theophilos Thomas (Outside Kerala diocese) and Mor Osthatheos Benyamin Joseph (Simhasana Church). About a year after the demise of Mor Clemis Abraham, on 18th December 2003, a special session of the Knanaya Association meeting was convened in the headquarters of the Church at Chingavanom to elect a new Metropolitan for the congregation. The convention choose Fr.Kurikose Abraham (Edavazhikkal Achen) to head the Knanaya community. On 12th January 2004 he was ordained Ramban (monk Priest) at the Patriarchal Cathedral church at Damascus by H.H the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas and three days after, on 15th January, he was ordained Metropolitan . |
