Knanaya: Difference between revisions
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[[Knai Thomman]] • Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara • [[Eliza Joseph]] |
[[Knai Thomman]] • Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Viruthakulangara • [[Eliza Joseph]] |
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|group=Thekkumbagar/Knanaya<br /> קנאי (''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'') |
|group=Thekkumbagar/Knanaya<br /> קנאי (''Kanai'' or ''Q'nai'') |
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|poptime=2001: (approx) ''' |
|poptime=2001: (approx) '''352,600''' |
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|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:''' |
|popplace=<span style="font-size:105%;">'''Majority Population:''' |
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{{IND}} <br /> |
{{IND}} <br /> |
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The approximate population of Kna Jews as of 2001: (divided by different denominations) |
The approximate population of Kna Jews as of 2001: (divided by different denominations) |
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*''[[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church|Knanaya Jacobite]]'': |
*''[[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church|Knanaya Jacobite]]'': 100,000 |
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*''[[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church|Knanaya Catholic]]'': |
*''[[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church|Knanaya Catholic]]'': 190,000 |
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*''Knanaya Pentacostal'': 50,000 |
*''Knanaya Pentacostal'': 50,000 |
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*''Other Faiths'': 10,200 |
*''Other Faiths'': 10,200 |
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In all over |
In all over 350,200 Knanaya continue in a diluted yet still ancient [[Jewish-Christian]] tradition. |
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==Culture== |
==Culture== |
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Revision as of 16:28, 3 June 2011
 | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: the article may need to have its references reviewed. (January 2011) |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Majority Population:
 United Kingdom | |
| Languages | |
| Malayalam, Aramaic. | |
| Religion | |
| Majority Jewish Christian | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Knanaya peoples: |
Thekkumbagar/Knanaya or more accurately Q'nanaya, (Heb:קנאים, Malayalam: ക്നാനായ, Syriac:ܛܢܢܐ, Ar:قينان) from Kerala, India, are a Jewish Christian people of early endogamous Kenite descent.[4][5] Their heritage and culture is Jewish-Keralite and their language Malayalam and Aramaic.[5] Their loyalties are with the Nasrani community of Syriac Christians from Kerala.[5]
Etymology
Knanaya is said to literally mean "Knai people" or "Q'nai people". The Aramaic etymology given (ܛܢܢܐ) suggests a velular shift between Syriac ܛ and Malayalam ക but also a common origin with the Hebrew term קנאי (Knai or Q'nai meaning "overly-jealous/with-zeal") singular form of קנאים (KanahiKna'im), meaning "Zealous ones (for Torah)", zealot Hasmonean descendants of Aaron's grandson Phinehas, son of Eleazar. The Arabic name given (قينان) is evivalent to Kenan, Arpacsad's son in the Septuagint, which the New Strong's Concordance identifies with their Hebrew name קינים (Kenites). Ultimate derivation is from the root meaning of "possessive" later meaning "striker" due to renown as smiths among their Kenite ancestors shared with the Druze along with Haplogroup L (Y-DNA) as well as once the Nasrani (Arabic: نذاريون, from Greek: Ναζωραίων and ultimately Hebrew: נזיר) religious designation. The Malayalam term Thekkumbhagar meaning "Southists" is said to derive from their biblical descent from the Hasmonean Kna'im of Shammai who continued to occupy the foothills of the southern province of Judea until they were forced to flee in 135 CE: hence Thekkumbhagar "southists".
History
Early history
Nasrani had already arrived on the Malabar coast before the traditional 345CE migration date of the Knanaya and included native Indian converts and converted Jewish people - Sephardi, Paradesi, and Cochin Jews - who had settled in Kerala during the Babylonian exile and increasing persecution in Europe.[6] They came mostly from the Northern Kingdom of Israel and became known as Northists.
The Southist (Thekkumbhagar) Kna'i Kenite/Jewish ancestors of the Knanaya are those who had reclaimed the southern province of Israel known in the Old Testament as the Kingdom of Judah. In the same tradition as their Maccabee ancestors, Shammai's Kna'im fought against the Romans for the sovereignty of the Jews being deeply against the Roman rule of Israel. It was the zealotry among the Southists (Thekkumbhagar) which led to their strict observance of endogamy in distinction from their more relaxed northern brethren. The distinction between the northern heavily exogamous Samaritans and the southern zealously endagamous tribes of Judea led to the difference among the non-Knanaya Nasrani as Northists and the Knanaya as Southists. The Knanaya (Kna'i people) continue to remain an endogamous group also within the Nasrani community.[6] During their struggle against the Romans, the ancestral Knanaya became followers of the Jewish sect led by a certain Ιησο from the Northern "Ναζαρα" community (Jesus of Nazareth), they claim this is why many of Jesus' followers had names typical among the ancestral Knanaya freedom fighters such as "Zealot" (Simon K'na), "Daggerman" (Judas Iscariot), "Rock" (Simon Peter), "Thundersons" (James & John Boanerges) etc.. Indeed they claim that the founders of their 72 families were those hand picked by Jesus in Luke 10:1.
After the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans in AD 33, the unconverted Southist Zealots intensified their struggle against the Roman rule. In 70 AD, hundreds of them evaded capture from the Romans and took shelter in the fortress at Masada. In 72 AD, after a two year siege, the remaining 960 unwilling to give up to the Romans killed themselves before the Romans could capture them. This act of martyrdom is still commemorated in Israel. Those who had converted to the Nasrani faith continued to rule in Jerusalem until they migrated between 132 and 135 CE from Jerusalem, Israel to Edessa in Syria (now Şanlıurfa, Turkey) the first city state that embraced Christianity in the Roman Empire.[7]
In AD 318 their leadership fell out with Pope Sylvester which resulted in Rome passing death penalty legislation against their passover observances in 333AD. By AD 345 persecution had become so extreme that the central group of Knanaya families descended from the 72 apostles hand picked by Jesus were forced to emigrate to the Jewish trade posts at Kodungallur in Kerala and settled there. Thus their descendants are still known today in Kerala as the Southinst Knanaya Nasrani.[8]
Migration
The 72 Syro-Aramaic Nazuraiun families, the "Southist" Kna'/Kenite ancestors of the of the Knanaya migrated from Edessa, to the Malabar coast in AD 345, under the leadership of a prominent merchant Knai Thomman (Thomas, descendant of Simon the Zealot) where they built a town in Kodungalloor with a church and 72 houses.[9] The story goes that Mar Joseph of Urfa had a startling dream in which he saw the plight of the Christian church in Malabar established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first Century. In addition, new trading opportunities in India and the increasing persecution the Knanaya ancestors faced as a result of the fall out with Sylvester caused many of them to migrate. They consisted of 400 Christians from 72 families of various Jewish clans, Bishop Mar Joseph of Urfa, and other Bishops and Deacons. Tradition states that they sailed in three ships headed by a leading ship under the flag of the Magen David to Muziris. The Knanaya were granted asylum and permission to engage in trade and settle down in Kodungallur by the then ruler of Malabar, Cheraman Perumal.[9] The event was recorded on copper plates given to the community.[9]
Pre-Colonial
Most of the Knanaya were wealthy plantation owners, merchants and bankers. For business purposes, many Knanaya people moved from Kondungallur to large commercial areas such as Kaipuzha, Kottayam, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram. Islamizaiton followed increasing problems with the influence of the Caliphate and an assault upon Kodungallur by the Caliph's mercenaries. Thus those Sufis of the same settlements (from Kondungallur) who call themselves Hawariyun (حواريون but also نذاريون) share the same heritage[10] preserving the key to their calendar of Jubilees.
Persecution by Portuguese
During the Portuguese occupation, the Nasrani were heavily persecuted as Judaizers and Islamizers. An Imperial Order was passed to confiscate and sell under public auction the properties of those who celebrated Passover and circumcision was prohibited.[11] Despite specific discrimination, the only Nasrani who managed to preserve some elements of their Jewish origin were the Knanaya, because of their tradition of being endogamous within their own community and therefore preserving their Jewish tradition.[8] All other Nasrani, who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian-Jewish tradition, lost their very defining ethos.[11] The Knanaya no different from all Nasrani were forced to incorporate changes including Mariolatry into their ancient Aaronic rites ending a 3000 year fidelity. Nevertheless, the modern liturgies are not quite unrecognizable, and the Knanaya continue to celebrate Passover very privately without inviting any Christian friend to share the Holy Meal, in accordance with Exodus 12:45.[12]
Modern history
As a result of difficulties following the Goa Inquisition, Knanaya are now divided into two major groups, the first belonging to the Syriac Orthodox Church in India and the second to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.[13] Knanaya are conscious about their origin and up to now still safeguard their ethnic character by marrying people from within the community regardless of rite. 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 were acknowledged by the Vatican under Pope Pius X, by establishing in 1911 a separate diocese for the Jewish Christians (Syrian-catholic) of Kerala, named the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam.[13] The first head of the Diocesean-type organization for the Catholic Knanaya was Mar Mathew Makil[14]
The approximate population of Kna Jews as of 2001: (divided by different denominations)
- Knanaya Jacobite: 100,000
- Knanaya Catholic: 190,000
- Knanaya Pentacostal: 50,000
- Other Faiths: 10,200
In all over 350,200 Knanaya continue in a diluted yet still ancient Jewish-Christian tradition.
Culture
There are many the Jewish customs recorded in the Peshtta still preserved by the Knanaya.[15] The order of their Qurbana (l'todah u'zevach shelamim) is as outlined in vayikra, and many still bring honey yeast cakes to their tabernacle for firstfruit blessings immediately after the week of unleavened bread. Kna Jews are strict monotheists believing in one supreme and ultimate divine essence (τὸν θεόν) revealed through three major attributes or channels, namely θεός, λόγος, and πνευμα. They are also strictly endagamous and no one may convert to join the Kna Jews although Agape Shelamim is a means of communion with this ancient Aaronic community. Marrying out is an increasing concern for the community. That being said there is a big question about whether to allow other Jews into the community as genetic testing indicates was certainly the practice in the past. The Knanaya and other Nasrani as a whole maintained close relationship with the Jews of Kerala, (known today as Cochin Jews) until the Goa Inquisition of the Jews and Nasrani in the early 1500s.[15] Even today, the Kna Jews are still victims of increasing missionary efforts from both Christian, Jewish, and Islamic desiring that they should abandon their Jewish identity, customs, and traditions. One such Jewish tradition is preserved in the consumption of Pesaha pal (passover coconut milk [חלב קוקוס]) on the night of passover along with Pesaha-appam (unleavened passover bread).[15] This tradition of Pesaha appam is observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day.[15] The bridal canopy or huppah is part of the Knanaya wedding ceremony and there is aceremonial bathing on the eve of the wedding that is parallel to the Jewish mikvah. The dead are buried facing the east (though Jerusalem is west of India).[15] Thanksgiving blessings which the Kna Jews use which follow the Hebrew formula, Birkat HaMazon (ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ) when initiating a Eucharistic Mass.
See also
Notes
- ^ "Knanaya's Around the World". Knanaya's of Israel. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "ViennaKnas.com". Retrieved 1 January 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "Swisskna.com". Retrieved 1 January 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ R.Eisenman. Maccabees, Zadokites, Christians and Qumran, Leiden, 1984,
- ^ a b c Menachery G. 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001; Weil,S. 1982; Podipara, Placid J. 1970
- ^ a b Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; & Koder S. 1973
- ^ Mcfadden, Robert D.; Mcgeehan, Patrick (24 November 2008). "Gunman Kills One at a Church in New Jersey". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil, S. 1982; Poomangalam C.A 1998; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973 Cite error: The named reference "Poomangalam" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973
- ^ http://www.knanayacatholics.com/articles/chapter1.htm
- ^ a b Claudius Buchanan, 1811
- ^ http://knanaya.weebly.com/who-is-a-knanaite.html
- ^ a b Weil, S. 1982; Jessay, P.M. 1986; Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Vellian Jacob 2001
- ^ brief set of bios of bishops of Kottayamad
- ^ 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
References
- 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)
- Puthiakunnel, Thomas. (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.
External links
- Knanaya in Manchester
- Knanaya Jacobite Annual Convention
- Jews of Kerala
- Christians of Kerala
- Indian Christianity
- Archdiocese of Kottayam
- St.Johns Puthenpally Chingavanam