John's Church
200 Cambridge Heath Road
Bethnal Green
London E2 9PA In the 4th century, a settlement of Jewish Christians was founded in Kerala by Thomas of Kana (Knai Thoma )at the behest of the Patriarch of Antioch to rejuvenate the disintegrating Christian churches established by St. Thomas, the apostle. They became known as the Knanaya. This community has rigidly maintained its distinct ethn
ic identity to the present day, vehemently prohibiting intermarriage with non-Knanaya. The Syriac (also called Syrian) Knananya Christians are a very distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Old Testament. Twenty years after the Nicaean Council, Knai Thoma, a rich international merchant from Cana, brought a colony of 400 Syriac Christians consisting of 72 families. They belonged to seven 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 Eddessa or Uraha. The legend is that Mor Joseph had a startling dream (vision) in which he saw the plight of the Christian Church in Malabar(India) established by St. Thomas, the Apostle, in the first century (AD 52). Mor Joseph and Knai Thoma landed at Kodungalloor (Crangannoore) in the year AD 345. Knai Thoma and his people were heartily welcomed by Cheraman Perumal, Emperor of Malabar. Cheraman Perumal sent his brother Ramavarma, and his minister, Vettathu Mannan, to receive Knai Thoma and his people. Cheraman Perumal bestowed on Knai Thoma and his People 72 princely privileges and thereby elevated them over 17 castes. This proclamation was made on AD 345 and it was recorded in the Copper Plates given to Knai Thoma. Knai Thoma and his people built a town in Kodungalloor with a church building and 72 houses. The natives called it “Mahadevar Pattanam” meaning “town of superiors”.This migration is known as the Knanaya migration or Syrian colonization. The arrival of Knai Thoma and his people (Knananites) re-established the Church founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in India. They helped the disintegrating Malabar Church both spiritually and socially. Furthermore they brought the Syriac (Church of Antioch) traditions and teachings to Malabar that are practiced by millions today. The Knananites remain an ethnically distinct diocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. H.G.GEEVARGHESE MOR SEVERIOS METROPOLITAN(1851-1927)(First Metropolitan of the Knanaya Community)
Mor Severios Geevarghese was the first Metropolitan of the Knanaya diocese. He was born in 1851 to Kasiso Philipose of the Edavazhickal family, the vicar of Kottayam Valiyapally, and Kunjachi. After his primary education Geevarghese prepared himself 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. On 31st August 1910, Patriarch Mor Ignatius `Abded Aloho ordained Fr. Geevarghese Edavazhickal as the first Knanaya Bishop with the name Mor Severios. Around that period, the reformation movement that was very active in Malankara rocked the Knanya Community also. At Kottayam, Kallissery and Ranny many faithful of the Knanaya community along with some priests joined the new movement and created a rift in the churches. At Kottayam Valiyapally this movement was strongly opposed by Rev. Philipose and his son. 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 centres 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 Severios was a source of love and selfless service to the community. An educational fund created by him and named after him is his great contribution to posterity. He served the community for seventeen years during which many churches were formed in the diocese. He democratised the administration of the church. For this purpose he called a meeting of the parish representatives and formed the Knanaya Association which is the parliament of Knanaya diocese. "The Knanaya Association" rules were compiled in 1918 which later became the guideline for the present constitution of the diocese. Mor Severius passed away on June 11, 1927 and was laid to rest at the ancient Kottayam Valiya Pally. H.E.ABRAHAM MOR CLEMIS METROPOLITAN(1918-2002)
Mor Clemis Abraham (V.I. Oonnittan) was born in Vaikom, Ranni, on 22 April 1918 as the sixth son of Mr. Idiculla Vayala and Pennamma Kalarickal. He had primary education at the Govt. Lower primary School, Vaikom and secondary education in M.S. Middle School. In 1936, he graduated from St. Mary's English high school, Alwaye. After taking B. Degree in 1941, he pursued Master's degree in Political Science at Annamalai University and graduated from there with honours. In 1931, H.G. Thomas Dioskoros ordained him as M’Samrono. In 1932, he was ordained as a Korooyo at Ranni Valiapally by H.H Ignatius Elias III. He learned basics of Syriac from Thrikunnathu Seminary and Omalloor. He had the good fortune of being taught by Mor Julius Bava and Abdul Ahad Ramban (who later became the Patriarch of Antioch H.H. Ignatius Jacob III). He was ordained as a priest at Ranni Valiyapally by Mor Julius Metropolitan. He celebrated the Puthan Qurbana on July 28th, 1947 at Ranni Valiapally following which he served as the Associate Vicar of Ranni Valiapally for two years and taught at the M.S. High School for a brief period. On May 1 1949 he joined the Theological Seminary in Mosul, Iraq where he studied Syriac and Theology. In 1951, His Grace was elected as the third Metropolitan of the Knanaya Diocese. Patriarch Ignatius Ephraim I ordained him as Ramban on April 8, 1951 and as Metropolitan on April 15, 1951 at Homs in Syria. His Grace's leadership of more than half a century brought tremendous achievements for our Samudayam (Community). Numerous churches, schools, and hostels were established since His Grace had become the Metropolitan. Considering His Grace's valuable service to the Syrian Church, our supreme head, the Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas honoured His Grace with the title “Kooberneethi Hakeemo” meaning ‘The Wise Captain’. Again in 1989 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 Abraham Metropolitan entered into eternity on Sunday the 29th of September 2002. At the time of His Grace demise, thirumeni was the senior most Metropolitan of the Syrian Orthodox Church all over the world and the longest serving bishop in the history of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. Let His Grace's untiring and devoted leadership continue to illumine our path in the coming days as well.
