Welcome to Oril Grace Cottage

The Knananites are a distinct ethnic and religious group whose ancestry traces back to Abraham, the patriarch of the Old Testament. God saved the twelve tribes of Israel through Moses from slavery in Egypt, and Joshua led them to settle in Canaan around 1250 BC. King David ruled from 1004–965 BC, and his son, King Solomon, built the first Jerusalem Church. After Solomon’s death in 928 BC, the nation split into two: the Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the Kingdom of Judea (the tribes of Judah and Benjamin). The people of Judea, descendants of King David, upheld the tradition of marrying only within their tribes.

In 720 BC, the Assyrians conquered Israel, and in 580 BC, the Babylonians conquered Judea, destroying the Jerusalem Church and exiling its people. Later, King Cyrus of Persia allowed the scattered people to return and resettle their land.

In 515 BC, the second Jerusalem Church was rebuilt. In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the region, bringing it under the Roman Empire. During Roman rule, Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was born. He was crucified around 30 AD under King Herod. A revolt began in 66 AD, and in 70 AD the second Jerusalem Church was destroyed. During the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–135 AD), most people were killed or exiled, except those in Galilee. Some of these fled to Jerusalem, Kana, Baghdad, Nineveh, and Edessa. The Jewish community in Kochi traces its origins to those who fled during this time.

Nearly 300 years later, about 400 people from seventy-two families and seven clans, under the leadership of Knai Thomman, migrated to Cranganore (Kodungallur) on March 7, 345 AD. From this history, we confirm that the Knananites are descendants of King David, King Solomon, and ultimately Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the chosen people of the Lord Yahweh. Today’s Knananites continue as descendants of those 400 migrants who settled in Kodungallur in 345 AD.

• 1524 – Sri. Valia Thomman & Family
  • Settled on the bank of Manimala River, Thengali near Kuttoor under Kallisserry parish.
  • Family name: Methakattu
  • Children of KochuThomman (Valia Thomman’s son)
    • Thomman Thomman (Nambaru Thomman) Methakattu
      • 7 Children
        • Boys
          • Kurivila (Kurian) Methakattu
          • Thoman Kannattipusha
          • Kunjumman Methakattu / Kolabhagath
        • Girls
          • Kundumkuzhi Kalliserry
          • Cheruvalli Kurichy
          • Kavathazha Neelamparur
          • Payanadu Vannikulam
      • Kunjumman Methakattu became Kunjumman Kolabhagathu (adopted by uncle Mathen Kolabhagath)
      • Children of Mathen Kolabhagath
        • Thoman Kumbalakadve – 3 daughters (married)
        • Mathan Melathavalil – 1 son (no children), 2 daughters (married)
        • Kurian Kaniyamallil – 5 boys (Rev. Fr. K.K. Thomas, Unnunny, Pappan, Aniyan, Dr. Kunjomachan PhD)
        • Kunjuman Punnoose Oril – 2 sons & 6 daughters
          • Sons
            • O.P. Thomas (Kuttachan) – 2 sons & 4 daughters (Soman, Sabu; Amminy, Kunjunjamma, Omana, Therasyamma)
            • O.P. Abraham (Kunjavarachan) – 2 sons & 4 daughters (Abraham Raju, Joys; Kunjumol, Omana, Suma, Suja)
        • Mathulla Kolabhagath – 2 sons & 3 daughters
        • Kunjumman – died at age 18
        • Daughter Kochachi – married Parayil (moved to Punaloor)
    • Etti Okkan Kandamkary – 3 sons
      • Muthachattan (died without children)
      • Kurian Kandamkery – 3 daughters (Thayparambil Kunhielachy, Kathanaserry Eruvallipara, Karakally Tiruvanvandoor)
      • Gevarghese (Ethichadi Appan) – 2 boys & 2 girls (Pasterude Appan, Mathukutty; daughters married)
    • Unnittan Madavana – 2 boys
      • Thoman – 2 girls (Kandathil Tiruvanvandoor & Puthenpurackal Edathva)
      • Chacko – 3 boys & 2 girls
    • Punnoose Kannallil – 5 boys
      • Kochupunnoose – 4 boys + 1 girl
      • Valiya Kochunju – 1 son + 2 other children
      • Chacko Punnoose – 1 son
      • Kochunnattan & wife Cheera – Sons: Chacko (4 sons), Avra (1 son)
      • Kochukunju Pullazhipariyail – 3 daughters
    • Mathan Kolabhagath – no children
      • Adopted Kunjumman Methakattu (3rd son of Number Thomman)
  • History of Methakattu Kuruvilla Kurian
    • 1 son & 5 daughters
      • Daughters: Puluthuthuruth Neelamparuir, Kannoth Ramenkary, Pallikkaparambil Kurichy, Mundiyathra Kumarankerry, Vadakamannil Vannikullam
      • Son: Kurian Thomman – 2 sons & 2 daughters
        • Sons: Thomman Kurian Methakattu – 4 sons (Kuriayachan, David, Israyal, Gidayon), Thomman Thomas – 2 daughters (Baby Naipallodithil, Kunjumol Ochallil)
        • Daughters: Chachy Manimalath – 3 sons & 6 girls; Mariamma Naduvilaparampil – 2 sons
  • History of Thoman Kannattipuzha
    • 3 sons & 4 daughters
      • Sons
        • Thoman Erichippuram – 3 sons & 4 girls (Thoman Abraham, Thoman Punnoose Thuruthumalil, Thomman Kunjamathu)
        • Ettivara Kannattipuzha – 3 sons & 3 daughters
        • Pothan Kannattipuzha – 3 sons & 3 daughters
      • Daughters: Vengattu Thengalyil, Valapurackal Kalliserry, Thumbaparambil Kurichy, Parathathil Neelamparur

History of Kunjumman Punnoose Oril (1880 to 1942):

• 1524: Mr. Valiya Thoman & his wife and son Kochu Thomman moved to Mathakattu, Thengali under the Parish of Kallisserry.
• 1624: His son Kochu Thomman.
• 1724: His son Thomman Thomman (Number Thoman).
• 1800: His son Kunjuman Methakattu, the 3^rd son of Number Thomman moved to Kolabhagath because his uncle Mathan Kolabhagathu did not have children.
• 1880 to 1942: Sri. Kunjumman Punnoose settled at Oril House on the bank of river Manimalla. His wife is Nyathomma Punnoose of Thotupurath house, Venpala. They had 2 boys & 6 girls.

Sons: a) O. P. Thomas (Kuttachan), 1) Soman & 2) Sabu Kannattipuzhayil.
b) O.P. Abraham (Kunjavarachan), 2) Abraham Raju Oril & Joys Abraham.

Daughters: a) Muringasherril Valliyapannu, Kallisserril,
b) Kudakaserril Chinnamma Thengali,
c) Panachamuttil Kochachi Mannar,
d) Nellattu Mariayamma Ramamangalam,
e) Muringasherril Shoshamma Othara &
f) Manimalayath Kunjamma Ranni.

A) O. P. Thomas (Kuttachan), settled at Kannattipuzha, married to Chachikutty of Chanthyil Eraviparoor. They had 2 sons & 4 daughters.

Sons: a) Soman, married to Kunjunjamma of Keepanalil Rannil. They had one son Mr. Jomon (married with one son) & 2 daughters, Jomol (Italy) & Jossy Vakathanam.
b) Sabu Kannattipuzhayil, married to Valsamma of Mavalil Kudaloor. Settled in Italy with 2 children: Nikil & Nikitha.

Daughters: a) Amminy, married to Mr. Kunju of Thancharil, Tiruvanvandoor.
b) Kunjunjamma, married to Thankachan of Maleth, Ranni.
c) Omana, married to Lukochan of Kurishumoottil, Kattoode.
d) Therasyamma, married to Thampi Ezhuthadath Ramamangalam.

B) O. P. Abraham (Kunjavarachan) (09/12/1930 - 07/01/1999), stayed at Oril Kudumbam. Married to Chinnamma (15/08/1933 – 02/08/2006) of Chudakattil, Nannadu, Tiruvanvandoor. They had 2 sons & 4 daughters.

Sons: a) Abraham Raju Oril (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E), married to Leelamma Raju of Thundiyal, Tiruvanvandoor, with 3 sons: Dr. Ajex Raju (married to Dr. Galina Solopova, Moscow), Ajay Raju (married to Titty Mary Baby Chamacharil Neendoor, Kottayam) & Anish Raju (engaged to Kukku Abraham).
Ajex and Galina's children: a) Maria & b) Mark.
Ajay and Titty's daughters: a) Ria (Riappy) & b) Ruby.
b) Joys Abraham (UK), married to Sancy Joys of Maramangalam, Mannanam. They have one son, Jesvin Joys.

Daughters: a) Kunjumol, married to P.K. Thomas Puthurath, Ranni (Hyderabad). Children: Shoba (married to Binu of Thyparambil, Venpala, with a baby son) & Subbin Thomas (married to Lija Subbin of Valanjanthurithy, Ranni).
b) Omana, married to Abraham (Babu) Kannakerril, Vachuchira, Ranni. Daughters: Bibin, Jenifer, Metilda.
c) Suma, married to Mathew Kurian of Perumkannarril, Mannar. Children: Priyanka & Kurian.
d) Suja, married to Kuriakose Thomas of Aroonnil, Ranni. Children: Saumya, Sanju & Sanu.

The 7-Clans are:

1) Bagi, 2) Belkuth, 3) Hadi, 4) Kujalig, 5) Koja, 6) Mugmuth, & 7) Thegmuth. (The 7-Tribes represent 7-Sacraments, and the 72-Families represents the 72-disciples of Jesus Christ). The Holy Spirit informed Bishop SAHADOS of Seleucia in his dream that the Malabar Christians are being humiliated and they are badly in need of leaders. Hence he decided to send some of his people to Malabar, headed by the business man Resp. Knai Thomma. The Bishop, Mar Youseph of Uraha, 4-Priests and some Decons joined the group. With the blessings of the Patriach of Antioch Mor Yusthedius, the Casolicks Arch Bishop sent them off with gifts and the Holy Bible. The deep hearted departing message became the basic principles of all Knananites, which is MAKALE, ANUMO, HINDUVIL-POYALUM, BANDHANGAL VERPADATHORKANAM EPPOZHUM, PATHUM ORAZHUM ATHE EPPOZHUM CHINTHIPPIN, PADUMARIYATHIRIKAYANM NINGALUM

The 72 Privileges are:

1) Arappura (Treasury), 2) Ambari (How to ride on an elephant), 3) AnkaNam (courtyard), 4) Antholam (palanquin), 5) Ammoolam (a kind or 5ax), 6) Arrppu (cheers), 7) Alavattam (peacock feather fan), 8) Anasavari (elephant riding), 9) Uchipoovu (head turban), 10) Kacha (robes), ... 72) Pala-marangal (forest trees).

Various Customs & Traditions of Knanaya Catholics:

1) Marriage:

- Kaipidutham – Betrothal Ceremony by blessing the hands of the uncles of bride & bridegroom by the priest.

- Koluvilakku – Lighted oil-lamp placed near the bride and bridegroom for Mylanchi Ideel & Chamtham Charthal. This lamp is also used to welcome the couple after the Wedding. This lamp signifies the presence of Christ, the light of the world.

- Chamtham Charthal – Purification or beautification of the bridegroom by shaving face & bathing with oils, etc on the eve of the marriage.

- Mylanchi Ideel – Beautification of the palms and feet of bride by the leaves from “Mylanchi” shrub on the eve of marriage. This signifies the purification of hands and feet from the original sin committed by Adam & Eve.

- Icha-Pad-Kodukkal – Ceremony of giving sweet pudding to the bride and to the groom in their home after the beautification ceremony.

- “Beru Mariam” Song – A prayer in praise of Jesus as Son of Mary, sung by the priests & the laymen at the end of the marriage ceremony in the church.

- NaDa Vili – Cheers (NaDa NaDaaye…NaDa NaDa NaDa) given to the bride & Bridegroom while going home from the church after the marriage (It also serves to alert the wedding receptionists to complete their final touches).

- Vazhu Pidutham – The rite of giving God’s blessing to bride and groom by the mother of the bride by placing her hands in the form of a cross on their heads.

- Kacha Thazhukal – A ceremony using a new piece of cloth given to bride’s relatives as a gift by the groom’s party (Usually to bride’s mother, grandmother & maternal uncle/aunt).

- Nellum Neerum – Sign of cross done using the blessed palm leaves (from Palm Sunday) wetted in the patty (rice) water, on the forehead of the bride & bridegroom, wishing them God’s blessing and happiness.

- VeN-PaachoR – A special sweet rice porridge ceremoniously given to the new couples after marriage.

- Adachu ThuRa – Shutting & opening of the bride’s chamber at the end of the marriage festivities at home.

- Illa-PaNam – A small amount of money is given to the bride’s party by the groom’s people as offering to the churches.

2) Funeral:

- Drinking from the blessed Coconut – To show that the sons and the daughters of the dead should live in fraternal communion.

- Thazhukal – Embracing relatives of the dead person in the church after the funeral, to express the condolence.

3) Other:

- Maargam Kali & Patt – Religious dance (ballad) performed in connection with joyful religious and social functions. The songs contain accounts of the apostolic work by St. Thomas and the voyage and migration of Thomas Kinai and his group.

- Puraathana PaaTTukaL (Ancient Songs) – Traditional songs sung by the participants and relatives during marriage ceremonies and festivities.

- Folding the Plantain Leaf for Meals – This reminds that King Cheraman Perumal honored Thomas Kinai and party by giving them two plantain leaves for royal dinner.