Our Story

Following the ascension of Jesus Christ, his apostles embarked on an important mission, faithfully responding to his command to spread the gospel to every corner of the earth. Among these devoted disciples was St. Thomas the Apostle, who made his way to the rich and diverse lands of South India (Kerala) around AD 52. With fervour and commitment, he preached the transformative message of Christ, reaching out to countless individuals and baptizing many. He established several churches, becoming a beacon of hope and faith in the region. His efforts led many native Indians to embrace Christianity, laying a profound and lasting foundation for the Christian faith in India. Tragically, in AD 72, St. Thomas met a martyr’s end, reportedly at the hands of local opponents who resisted this burgeoning new faith. Today, his tomb is located in the historic area of Mylapore, near Chennai, where pilgrims and believers pay their respects. However, his relics were later transported to Edessa in the 8th century, further symbolizing the spread of his influence beyond India’s borders.

In the aftermath of his martyrdom, the Christian community in India—especially in Kerala—endured a long and challenging period of spiritual isolation and uncertainty, marked by the absence of robust ecclesiastical leadership. This void created a significant gap in guidance and support for the faithful. Eventually, this challenging landscape prompted a new wave of Christian migrants from Edessa, who courageously sought to reconnect with and revitalize their Indian brethren, bringing renewed hope and a sense of community to the fledgling church in India.
 
During this time of decline, Bishop Mor Joseph of Urfa received a divine vision revealing the plight of the Indian Church, founded by St. Thomas. Deeply moved, he shared his vision with the Patriarch of Antioch, Mor Yusthedius. Recognizing the urgent need, they resolved to send a mission to India to spiritually strengthen the struggling Christian community under the leadership of Knai Thomman—a well-established international merchant engaged in trade with ports in India, Baghdad, and Egypt— who had cultivated a strong relationship with Cheraman Perumal, the ruling Emperor of Kerala. Having personally witnessed the hardships endured by Indian Christians, who were marginalized for their faith in an unfamiliar God, Knai Thommen pledged his support for the mission.

With the backing of the Patriarch and the logistical support of Knai Thommen—whose friendship with the king ensured safe passage and settlement—a group of approximately 400 people, including families, clergy, and religious leaders, was commissioned to travel to India. Led by Knai Thommen and bearing the blessings and directives of Patriarch Mor Yusthedius, the community set sail from Edessa in AD 345 to South India in a journey that would forever shape the Christian heritage of Kerala.

Upon their arrival in Kodungallur, the Knanaya people were received with great honour by Emperor Cheraman Perumal. Recognizing their noble heritage and spiritual mission, the emperor granted them land to establish a settlement named Mahadevar Pattanam, meaning “Town of Superiors.” In this settlement, they built a church and seventy-two houses, symbolizing the seventy-two distinguished families who had migrated under the leadership of Knai Thomman.

As a mark of royal favour, Cheraman Perumal bestowed them with 72 princely privileges, and it was recorded on copper plates (Knai Thomman Cheppedu). According to the copper plates, these privileges were given to Knai Thomman and his colleagues and all of his descendants granting them elevated social status above seventeen local castes as long as the sun and moon exist. These privileges are very important since all these privileges had influenced the community’s social life as well as the social status in the past years.

The descendants of Knai Thoma (Knananites) who lived on the south side of Kodungalloor are known as Southists (Thekkumbhagar) and the St, Thomas (native) Christians who lived on the north side of Kodungalloor are known as Northists (Vadakkumbhagar)

The history of the Knanaya community begins in AD 345 with a daring transcontinental migration led by the merchant Thomas of Cana (Knai Thoma). Fleeing religious uncertainty in Southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and seeking new opportunities for trade and faith, a group of roughly 400 Persian Christians—comprising 72 families, along with priests and deacons—embarked on a voyage across the Arabian Sea. They landed at the port of Cranganore (Kodungallur) on the Malabar Coast of India, where they were welcomed by the local ruler, Cheraman Perumal. This arrival marked the birth of a distinct, endogamous ethnic group that successfully integrated into Indian society while fiercely preserving their Syriac traditions and Judeo-Christian heritage for over seventeen centuries.

The history of the Knanaya community begins in AD 345 with a daring transcontinental migration led by the merchant Thomas of Cana (Knai Thoma). Fleeing religious uncertainty in Southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and seeking new opportunities for trade and faith, a group of roughly 400 Persian Christians—comprising 72 families, along with priests and deacons—embarked on a voyage across the Arabian Sea. They landed at the port of Cranganore (Kodungallur) on the Malabar Coast of India, where they were welcomed by the local ruler, Cheraman Perumal. This arrival marked the birth of a distinct, endogamous ethnic group that successfully integrated into Indian society while fiercely preserving their Syriac traditions and Judeo-Christian heritage for over seventeen centuries.