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He gives power over our servants.
It is he who gives greatness to walk along the path of His Will.
He gives the magnificence of a crowned king.
He bestows wealth-bringing prosperity.
Give Him praise and thanks since He is the cause of the life we
enjoy.
All these things will be yours by the will of the Almighty.....
87
From the song of blessings
3.7.9.3.2 Theological Significance
The marriage covenant is divine and is ordained for the procreation
of the children. This blessing song clearly expresses their awareness that it
is the indispensible duty of the spouses to be “parents”. This song is
considered so special that it acts as a final and solemn moral advice of a
mother to her newly-married daughter to co-operate with her husband in the
creative work of God. This ceremony also witnesses the emotional moment
when the mother tells her daughter how cautiously and lovingly she raised
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her: “like butter in milk I cared for you in my heart”. And now it is the
bride’s turn to impart life and all the affectionate care and education that she
received from her mother to her future offspring: “For that I invoke you the
Divine blessings”. This ceremony implies the importance of Christian
formation and value education.
3.7.9.4 The Elders Bless the Couple and Receive Hand-outs
At the end of the blessing song, the bride’s mother, maternal
grandmother and maternal uncle receive from the couple gifts of cloths
87 VELLIAN, J., Knānite Community History and Culture, Syrian Church Series Vol. XVII,
Jyothi Book House, Kottayam, 2001, pp. 71- 72. For full Song of the Blessing in
Malayalam, see P. U. LUKAS, Malayālatte Suriyāni Kristyānikalute Purātanappāttukal
th
(Ancient songs of the Syrian Christians of Malayalam, 1910), 7 Edition, Jyothi Book
House, Kottayam, 1992, pp. 12-13.
88
Cf. LUKAS, P. U., Malayālatte Suriyāni Kristyānikalute Purātanappāttukal (Ancient
th
songs of the Syrian Christians of Malayalam, 1910), 7 Edition, Jyothi Book House,
Kottayam, 1992, p. 13, Lines 27-28 of Hymn of Blessing (Malayalam).
www.knanayology.org

