Abstract
Knānāya is a branch of the Indian Syro-Malabar Christianity. This community, discerning its roots from the Ancient Persian emigration and lead by a merchant Thomas of Cana, strongly defends its own identity. This fact should not surprise anyone: such a defence is a fundamental right of any group or individual. However the “Southists”, in trying to preserve their “pure blood” completely excluded themselves from everything and from everyone who does not belong to them. Their community is endogamous, excluding any possibility to marry someone from “outside”. In this paper the author has made an analysis of the history of the Knānāya Christians, showing and comparing their discussion with the “Northists” (the other group of the Christians of St. Thomas). Furthermore he has presented the most interesting and unusual customs of the “Southists” (namely their marriage customs, the choice of the clergy, and one of their burial customs) and has documented their position in the open and universal Catholic Church.
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