Messianic Jews

"The History of the Christian Jews in Asia"

"The Christian Jews"

Christian Jews"
According to the decision of the Holy Synod at Nicea in A.D.325 Patriach of Antioch and the East was empowered to administer the Universal Eastern Church, and with the apostolic blessings of the Holiness of Antioch and all the East, seventy-two families, consisting of four hundred members with Priests and Deacons accompanied by Metropolitan Joseph of Uraha made a voyage by sea under the leadership of a Merchant prince Thomas of Kana in the year A.D 345 and landed at Cranganore, the then well known sea port of Kerala. This migration is known as the Knanaya migration which is recorded by various historians as a historical fact. The descendants of those emigrants settled down at Mahadewar town in Cranganore with the patronage of the then Cheraman Perumal who ruled Kerala, are known as the Knanaya Community of Kerala. Until 9th century A.D the Knanaya Community stayed in Mahadevar town in Cranganore and thereafter they slowly began to settle down in the ancient trade centers of Kerala.

By the 16th century they moved to Udemperoor, Mulandthuruti, Kaduthuruthi, Kottayam, Chigavanam and Kallissery where they built churches.

In 915 during the time of Marthandavarma Maharaja of Travancore a royal decree was accorded to the chieftains (karthas) confirming their overlordship with the people. Thus they were armed with powers to capture elephants and to collect taxes. By the the middle of the 17th century AD. the karthas of Kottayil, Ranni who heard about the militant qualities of the Knanaya settlers while in service of the rulers of Vadanke Core and Thek in Core, invited two families from Kadathuruthy and appointed them as the bodyguards of Kartha family. This attracted many Kananites to come to Ranni and started settling on either side of river Pamba.

For a long time until 1742 A.D the Knanayits of Ranni were members of the Kallissery church. The desire of the Knanaya people to build a church at Ranni became fruitful when the rulers of the kartha family allotted in the Devar hill an area consisting of (40x35), [about 8 acres] free of land tax to them. The consideration of the gift of land was certain amount of gold powder. Thus in A.D 1742 the St.Thomas Church of Ranni was buit at the Devar hill which is facing river Pumba. For about a century and a half Christians of other denominations in and around Ranni attended the church services here. By A.D 1901 the old church was reconstructed and it is significant that it's foundation stone was laid by the Most Reverend Mor Grogorios of Parumala.

A DESCENDANT OF DR. SUSAN JACOB OF JEWISH DESCENT
The traditional story that triggered the establishment of a knanaya church in Ranni is as follows. A devout old Christian belonging to the Kannathumuriyil family made a hazardous journey to Mylapore via Pandynadu (Madura] where he was accidently met by some traders from Ranni and the relatives who went in search of him met him. They tried to dissuade him from the journey as the journey was tough for an old man. But he agreed to come back on condition that he should get a pledge to construct a church at Ranni in the name of St. Thomas. In pursuance of the promise to the old man, the construction of St.Thomas church was started and the older man whose name was Abraham stayed on the church site without even going home till he died, and was buried in the church of his dream.

A landmark event that happened was an old hand written Syriac Bible on (Vellom leather) which was used in Ranni church for about 70 years, taken from KANNATHAMURIYIL FAMILY, was presented to a scholar of ancient History Dr. Claudius Buchanan is now kept in the Cambridge Library. It is all the more gratifying to know that this Bible translated into Malayalam by Philipose Ramban of Kayamkulam was from the original Bible presented to Dr. Claudius Buchanan from Ranni St.Thomas church.

Knanaites are the descendants of Syrian Christians of Jewish origin migrated to the Malabar Coast (Kerala) of India, during the Forth Century, under the leadership of Thomas of Kana (Knai Thomas) to rejuvenate the disintegrating Christian churches established by St. Thomas, the apostle.

Knanaites are very distinct, ethnic and religious group of people whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. Israelites became slaves in Egypt and God commanded Moses to lead them from slavery and finally Joshua led the 12 tribes of Israelites to Canaan in 1250 BC. David became King from 1004BC to 965 BC and then Solomon, the successor, who built the first temple in Jerusalem. After Solomon's death in 928 BC, his kingdom (12 tribes) were divided into two sister kingdoms: the Northern kingdom with the descendants of ten tribes (Kingdom of Israel), and the Southern kingdom with the descendants of Judah and Benjamin (Kingdom of Judah). The Southern kingdom remained loyal to the David dynasty and never intermarried with others. Knai Thoma and his people were the descendants of the two tribes of the Southern kingdom (tribes of Judah and Benjamin). In 720 BC the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyrians and in 580 BC Kingdom of Judah was conquered by Nebuchadnezzer of Babylonia, and their respective inhabitants were exiled. The Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed. When Persians conquered Babylonia, Cyrus (the new ruler) allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem and eventually the second temple was built in 515 BC. In Judea, the Community continued in theocracy. Alexander the great conquered Judea in 332 BC. With the Roman occupation of Judea in 63 BC, it became a Roman Province and Herod was proclaimed as the King of Judea. While Judea was ruled by Roman governors and procurators, severe outburst and rebellions became frequent. It was in this period that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans (30 AD). A great revolt (66 AD) broke out and Jerusalem was besieged in 70 AD and the second temple was destroyed. After the Bar Kokhba war (132-135 AD) the Jewish populations of Judea were either dead or enslaved in the fight. Jerusalem and its environs were settled by non-Jews, but Galilee remained the bastion of Judaism. Many Jews fled to various parts of the world and in this context Jewish colonies were established along the Malabar coast in India.

KNAI THOMA (MAR THOMA) AND THE MIGRATION

Twenty years after the Nicean Council (synod), Knai Thoma, a rich international merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syrian Christians consisting of 72 families belonging to 7 clans with instructions from the Patriarch of Antioch, Mor Yusthedius, to the Malabar coast of India.

The group included men, women, children, priests, deacons and their Bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa (Uraha/Edessa). The names of the seven clans were Bagi, Belkuth, Hadai, Kujalig, Koja, Mugmuth, and Thegmuth. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the 1st Century. Mor Joseph and Knai Thoma landed in Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in 345 AD. Knai Thoma and his group sailed in three ships. The leading ship called "Babylonia" had three masts. The main mast flew King David's flag, the second mast flew the Roman flag with the cross and the third flew King Abgar of Edessa's flag. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, the Emperor. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother, Ramavarma and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Knai Thoma and his people were given permission to settle down in Kodungalloor and to do business. Later Cheraman Perumal bestowed Knai Thoma and his people with 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on a Saturday in March (Kumbham 29), 345 and it was recorded on copper plates given to Knai Thoma (Knai Thomman Cheppedu). Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses. The natives called it "Mahadevar Pattanam" meaning "town of superiors". Knai Thoma and his people converted many natives to Christianity and built many churches. Thus the arrival of Knai Thoma and his people (Knanaites) reestablished the church founded by St. Thomas, the Apostle.

Southern kingdom of Judah. Knanaites did not intermarry with native Christians and maintained their Jewish tradition originating from Abraham. To this date the Knanaites continue as an endogamous community.

JEWS AND KNANAITES

Copper plates given to the Jews (kept in the Mattancherry Synagogue) were handed to Joseph Rabban, a first century merchant of Kodungalloor, just as Knai Thoma was given similar copper plates during the fourth century. Both groups are endogamous. The Jews, (Knanaites) believe that their customs and rituals are a continuation of ancient Jewish practices such as the position of the bride standing on the right of the bridegroom during the wedding ceremony, burial of the dead to face East to Jerusalem, the priest's black velvet cap which is similar to the Jew's head gear, the "kiss of peace" ceremony during Eucharist, the blessings given by parents and grandparents to their children and grandchildren, a reminiscent of the Old Testament blessings. During Easter celebrations Knanaites partake with unleavened bread and drink wine made of coconut milk and plums reminiscent of the Jewish malzot and red wine during Passover night. The Knanaya marriage ceremony includes the bridal canopy that may be equivalent to the Jewish nuppah; the groom's ceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that may be parallel to the Jewish mikrah or ritual bath, singing Old Testament songs on the eve and on the day of the wedding. All these customs and rituals are exclusively practiced by the Knanaites still and so distinguish them from the native Christians. Most striking similarities exist in the group's ancient songs. Reference to the 72 privileges are found in the songs of both communities. The songs of both groups are divided into five categories, i.e. historical, bridal, biblical, invocation and miscellaneous. There are similarities in composition, linguistics and the songs of both groups begins by invoking the name of the Almighty. In the songs shared by both groups, it is mentioned that three kings fought bravely and fell when Kodungalloor was burned down in 1524 and the descendants of these three kings, Cheraman Perumal, Joseph Rabban and Knai Thoma fought valiantly to save their town. Similarly, songs of both groups have same feelings about the Old Testament hero, Joseph. He is described as an ideal son, an ideal father and an ideal ruler. These similarities suggest that the Malabar Jews and the Knanaya (Jews) Christians (who are of Jewish origin) were living in close contact with each other in Kodungalloor sharing similar legends, Biblical stories, and traditions from a common origin between 345 and 1524 AD. In 1524 the churches and the synagogues were destroyed during the battle between Kozhikode (Calicut) and Cochin. Christians and Jews moved south to places like Udayamperoor, Mulamthuruthy and Kaduthuruthy. Eventually the Jews settled in Cochin and majority of the Knanaites (Jews) established their colony in Kaduthuruthy. The Raja (King) of Vadakkankoor was very pleased with the arrival of Knanaites to Kaduthuruthy. They built their church in Kaduthuruthy in 1556. Subsequently, Knanaites established colonies in Chungam (Thodupuzha), Kottayam, Kallissery, Ranny, Neelamparoor, Uzhavoor, Piravam, Thripunithura, Chingavanam, Changanacherry etc.

SYRIAN ORTHODOX FAITH

The arrival of Knai Thomas and his people helped the disintegrating Malabar Church both spiritually and socially. Further they brought the Syrian (Church of Antioch) traditions and teachings to Malabar that are practiced by millions today. Although Knanaites stayed as part of the Syrian Church, they maintained their ethnic heritage. The Syrian Church prospered until the arrival of the Portuguese during the 15th Century. The Portuguese tried to eradicate the Syrian rites and replace them with the Latin rites. In 1599, the Portuguese (Archbishop Menesis of Goa) assembled a synod at Udayamperoor and by force, changed the Syrian teachings existed since the arrival of the Knanaites. Archbishop Menesis and his successors were able to convert some Syrians with their power and money. However, a group under the leadership of a Knanaya priest, Anjilimmoottil Ittythomman Kathanar (Rev. Itty Thomas), resisted the Portuguese during the middle of the 17th Century. Church and its causes made him Known as the "Nasrani Simham" meaning Christian lion. Mor Joseph Pulikkottil's time (second half of the 19th Century) was probably the "Golden Era" in the Malankara Syrian church history. His love and respect for Knanaites were evident in having three Knanaites in his administration.