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“ancient songs” which are actually prayers and hymns (See 3.6.1.1). After
the bath and cleaning of the mouth, the groom is dressed in the nuptial
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garments and wears a golden cross and chain.
3.7.3.1.1 Theological Significance

The Knānite community pays great attention to the solemn bath on
the eve of the marriage. This is very common in Jewish and Hindu
traditional families in preparation for a marriage, as well. During the bath,
they invoke through the devotional hymns a blessing on the couple for
progeny, riches, immunity from diseases, and safety from enemies. The
bride also bathes partly as a fertility rite, water being a well-known
promoter of fertility, to remove any pollution which may have affected her
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before the marriage rite is performed. Bathing has various Christian
meanings such as conversion from old life to new life, spiritual beauty,
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readiness to enter into a sacramental life, and purifying the mind and body.
This ceremony is full of baptismal connotations, especially regarding
its insistence on the presence of a prayerfully-involved community. Just as
the members of the Church are to be a support and encouragement to one
another’s faith, the involvement of the community helps the spouses to
deepen their life-long commitment and offers their support to the couple for
forming a healthy relationship. The baptismal symbolism of new life in
Christ also finds expression in the richly-adorned new clothes and the
golden cross worn by the bridegroom as he is brought back to the centre of
the pavilion. The religious significance of this ceremony of purification and
beautification, in preparation for the sacred rite of marriage finds its best
expression in the observance of a fast undertaken by the bridegroom from
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after the ceremonies of the eve till the marriage feast on the next day.

37 Cf. PULLAPPALLY, JOHN P. M., “Socio-religious Customs of Knānites” (Malayalam),
in J. VELLIAN (ed.), Symposium on Knānites, The Syrian Church Series, Vol. XII,
Kottayam, 1986, p. 106.
38
Cf. EDAKALATHUR, L., The Theology of Marriage in the East Syrian Tradition,
Pontificium Institutum Orientale, Roma, 1994, p. 154.
39
Cf. KOIKARA, M., The Sacredness of Marriage and Family in the Cultural Milieu of St.
Thomas Christians, Academia Alfonsiana, Rome, 1988, pp. 29-30.
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Cf. PULLAPPALLY, JOHN P. M., “Socio-religious Customs of Knānites” (Malayalam),
in J. VELLIAN (ed.), Symposium on Knānites, The Syrian Church Series, Vol. XII,
Kottayam, 1986, p. 106.
41 Cf. KOIKARA, M., The Sacredness of Marriage and Family in the Cultural Milieu of St.
Thomas Christians, Academia Alfonsiana, Rome, 1988, pp. 31-32.

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