Sunday School

On which two days do we celebrate Exaltation of the Cross?

(a) Mid-Lent (b) Holy Cross day.

When is the Mid-lent day?

Mid-Lent day is the 25th day of the Great Lent which is always on a Wednesday.

Why do we use cross in the Holy sacrament?

We use cross in all Holy Sacraments since all sacraments originate from the merits of the blood of Christ on the cross.

Why do the faithful make the sign of the cross on their forehead?

Making the sign of cross on forehead reaffirms baptismal covenant and profess our faith in Holy Trinity.

Explain the importance of Fasting and prayer. Include two examples of when people

observed fasting and prayer in the Bible. Also include two Bible verses supporting your

answer.

Fasting and prayer are important spiritual weapons. They bring about repentance and spiritual transformation in the person by making the person come closer to God. Prayer is union with God. Fasting is a voluntary act of abandoning worldly life. Jesus fasted for forty days. (include bible verse here).

We have to engage in prayers, read Bible, restrict talks, give up certain food such as meat, repent of our sins, focus on God, reconcile with God and people. Fasting is more than just controlling food. It is a tedious exercise of forgiveness, compassion, and controlling emotions.

This is apparent in the bible verse “Surrender your life fully to jesus Christ as your lord and master; refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1-2). Another example in the bible is “Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16-17)

Name the seven miracles of Jesus that we celebrate during the first Sundays and Saturday prior to Palm Sunday.

Turning water into wine, healing of the leper, healing the paralyzed man, healing the Canaanite’s daughter, the healing of a crippled woman, healing the blind man, and raising Lazarus from the dead

Great lent _____________ days

50

Assumption lent ________ days

5

Yeldo (Nativity) lent _______________ days

10

Nineveh lent _________________ days

3

Apostles lent _______________ days

3

Sep 1 to 8 is Canonical lent. True or False?

False

Assumption is on ____________

August 15.

Feast of St Peter & St Paul is on __________

June 29.

Birth of Virgin Mary is on ___________

September 8.

Name the five Canonical lents.

(a) Nineveh Lent (b) The Great Lent (c) Apostle’s Lent (d) Assumption Lent (e) Lent of Nativity are the five Canonical lents.

What are the two categories into which our Church festivals are divided into?

(a) Festivals pertaining to the Lord (b) Festivals commemorating Holy Virgin Mary and saints.

Name the eleven major festivals of our Church.

The Annunciation, The Nativity of Christ, The Circumcision of our Lord, The Presentation of Lord Jesus at the Temple, The Epiphany or the Baptism of Christ, The Transfiguration of Christ, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Easter, The Ascension, Pentecost.

Feast of Ascension is always on a Thursday. True or False?

True

What are the three significances of the feast of Pentecost?

Signifes the descent of Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost day, revelation of Holy Trinity, remembers the birth of Christian Church.

Annunciation is celebrated on ___________

March 25

Circumcision of Jesus is celebrated on _________

January 1

Presentation of Jesus at temple is celebrated on ______________

February 2

Baptism of Jesus (Epiphany or Denho) is celebrated on ___________

January 1

Transfiguration of Jesus is celebrated on _____________

August 6

Why did John the Baptist baptize Jesus with water?

John the Baptist baptized Jesus with water so then the Lamb of God might be revealed to Israel and to show the Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus was transfigured on Mount ______________

Tabor

The three apostles who saw the transfiguration of Jesus are _____________

Peter, James, John.

The three Gospels which record the transfiguration of Jesus are ___________

Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke.

The two people who appeared during the time of Transfiguration of Jesus are ___________

Moses and Elijah

According to St Ephraim, why did Jesus take the apostles to the mountain where

transfiguration occurred?

According to St. Ephraim, Jesus took the apostles to the mountain where His transfiguration occurred to show that Jesus had divine nature in addition to His human nature, to make them believe that Jesus was indeed the redeemer of Israel, Son of God and He is God.

What are the names of the eleven apocrypha books?

Tobit, Judith, Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Sirach, Epistle of Jeremiah, Baruch 1, Baruch 2, Daniel, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees.

The contest described in the second book of Maccabees is a struggle between those who

uphold the law and those who would destroy it. True or False?

True

The purpose of the first book of Maccabees was to record the deliverance of Israel that

God worked through the family of Mattathias. True or False?

True

Name the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Humility, Self-Control

Explain the significance of each of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. Include Biblical

examples to support your explanation.

The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control help believers overcome evil with good, as stated in Romans 12:21. Love counters hatred, joy resists despair, and peace calms conflict. Patience and kindness encourage understanding, while goodness upholds integrity. Faithfulness keeps believers grounded, gentleness diffuses hostility, and self-control prevents sin. These virtues strengthen believers to resist evil and bring God’s goodness into the world.

What was the original name of Paul?

Saul.

Where was Paul born?

Tarsus.

Explain how Paul was converted.

While Traveling to Damascus, Paul was struck by bright light and he became blind. Then Paul heard a voice asking him on why he was persecuting Jesus. The voice asked Paul to go to the city and God will tell him what to do. After Paul came to the city, a disciple of Jesus visited Paul and baptized him. Paul was then filled with the Holy Spirit and got his vision back. After this Paul started to teach about Jesus.

Paul came back to life after he was stoned to death in Lystra. True or False?

True.

Where did Paul start his first missionary journey?

Antioch.

Name the two people who accompanied Paul when he started his first missionary journey.

Barnabas and John Mark.

Who gave proof during Jerusalem conference in AD 49 that God sent the Holy Spirit to

the Gentiles who were not circumcised (Act 15: 2)?

Peter.

Where did Paul start his second missionary journey?

Antioch.

Why did Paul & Barnabas disagree before the second missionary journey?

Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking John Mark with them since John Mark had ended the first missionary journey early than it was supposed to be.

In which place did Paul meet Timothy during his second missionary journey?

Lystra.

Where did Luke join Paul during his missionary journey?

Troas.

Who was the helper of Paul who was also imprisoned in Philippi?

Silas.

Name the two people who were tentmakers whom Paul met in Corinth.

Priscilla and Aquilla.

Paul met Priscilla and Aquila in which place?

Corinth.

Paul started his third missionary journey from where?

Antioch.

Where did Paul find twelve believers whom John the Baptist had baptized?

Ephesus.

Name the silversmith who sold replicas of pagan goddess Diana and her temple?

Demetrius.

Why did Demetrius organize a meeting in Ephesus?

Demetrius organized a meeting to discuss the decrease in sales of the idols of pagan goddess Diana and her temple.

Name the prophet who gave prophesy about Paul’s capture (Acts 21: 11)

Agabus.

Name the place where Paul was attacked by Jews after he left Miletus.

Jerusalem.

Name the city where riot started against Paul during the meeting which discussed the

drop in the sale of idols of pagan goddess Diana and her temple.

Ephesus.

How many major missionary journeys did Paul do?

Three.

Give five examples of symbols used in the book of Revelation.

The seventh seal, golden censer, seven trumpets, the angel with the scroll, and two witnesses.

How many churches in Asia Minor are recorded in the book of Revelation.

Seven.

What are the two kinds of languages used in the book of Revelation.

Language of letters, and symbolic language.

Why is the number seven given importance in the Bible?

Israelites considered number seven as complete perfect number. The number seven symbolizes completeness and perfection.

Explain six teachings from the book of Revelation.

Defeat Satan, Stand firm in faith until the end, God is in control, A new world, God will judge the dead and alive, and provide vision of Christ’s return.

What is the most important Christian value for a Christian?

Value God more than anything.

What are the five values shown when a person fulfills vows?

A person shows dedication, obligation, gratitude, obedience, and praise to God when he/she fulfills vows.

Give eight examples of virtues of life.

faith, hope, love, courage, justice, humility, honesty, and compassion.

Why do we say that our body is the very temple of the Holy Spirit of God?

• Our body is called the temple of the Holy Spirit because God's Spirit lives within us.

• Like a temple, our body becomes a sacred place.

• This means we should respect, care for, and use our bodies to honor God.

What are the positive and negative aspects of social networking?

You are able to connect with people share and take in ideas. However it can also be used for bad by revealing your personal information. Anything you post on the internet can be found and could effect your furture,

Give examples of addictions that a person can be addicted to. Explain why such

addictions are not a Chrisitan value. Include at least two Bible verse to support your

answer.

People can be addicted to things like alcoholism, drug use, sexual relationships, and gambling. These addictions take control of a person’s life and can harm both body and spirit. As Christians, we are called to live with self-control and not let anything rule over us. The Bible says we should not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12) and that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). These addictions go against Christian values and pull us away from a life that honors God.

Explain on why homosexuality is not a Christian value. Include at least two Bible verses

to support your answer.

Homosexuality is not a Christian value because the Bible teaches that sexual relationships should follow God’s design between a man and a woman. Leviticus 20:13 says, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.” Romans 1:26-27 states, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” These verses show that such behavior goes against God’s intended order and is not supported by Christian teaching.

Explain on how a Christian should value money and wealth. Include at least two Bible

verses to support your answer.

A Christian should value money by using it to honor God, not by how much they have. In Mark 12:43-44, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others... she, out of her poverty, put in everything.” This shows that God cares more about the heart than the amount. 1 Timothy 6:10 warns, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” meaning Christians should not let money become more important than their faith.

What does Bible teach us about sharing generously time and money? Include at least two

Bible verses to support your answer.

The Bible teaches us to share our time and money generously and with the right heart. In Mark 12:43–44, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others... she, out of her poverty, put in everything.” This shows that even small gifts matter when they come from the heart. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” reminding us that our giving—of time or money—should always be done to honor God.

What does Bible teach us about tithing? Include at least two Bible verses and at least two

examples of people in the Bible who gave tithes.

The Bible teaches that tithing is a way to honor and trust God by giving back a part of what He gives us. Proverbs 3:9–10 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.” This means when we give to God first, He will take care of us. In Luke 21:1–4, Jesus praises a poor widow who gave all she had, saying, “She out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” God values the heart behind our giving.

Two people in the Bible who gave tithes are Abraham, who gave a tenth of what he had to Melchizedek, and Jacob, who promised to give God a tenth of all he received.

“All shall _______ as they are _______, according to the _______ of the Lord your

___________ that _______ has given __________” (Deuteronomy 16: 17)

“All shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the Lord your

God that He has given You” (Deuteronomy 16: 17)

What two religious disciples are designed to deemphasize the pleasures of the world so

that the person can focus on the spiritual life?

Asceticism and Monasticism

What are the three monastic vows? Explain each of them.

The three monastic vows are obedience, poverty, and chastity. Obedience means listening to God and following the rules of the religious community. Poverty means giving up personal belongings and living a simple life, sharing everything with others. Chastity means choosing not to marry or have sexual relationships, so the person can focus fully on God. These vows help monks and nuns live a holy and dedicated life.

Explain asceticism from a Christian perspective.

Asceticism is the practice of strict self denial as a means of attaining a higher spiritual horizon. It is a discipline to avoid worldly practices to attain a higher spiritual life.

Explain monasticism from a Christian perspective.

Monasticism is the state of being secluded from the world in order to fulfill religious vows.

“Strive first for the __________ of God and His __________, and all these things will be

___________ to you as well” (Matthew 6: 33)

“Strive first for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be

given to you as well” (Matthew 6: 33)

Explain Christian stewardship and different components of it. Include three Bible verses

and two examples of people from the Bible who were good stewards to support your

answer.

Christian stewardship means taking care of everything God has given us—our time, talents, money, and the world around us—and using them to serve God and others. It is about being faithful, responsible, and generous with what we have.

In Luke 19:11–27, Jesus tells the parable of the ten minas, where a master rewards the servants who used what they were given wisely. This shows that God expects us to use our gifts well. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 teaches us to “rejoice always,” “pray continually,” and “give thanks in all circumstances,” showing how we should manage our time and attitude in a way that honors God. Romans 12:9–21 encourages Christians to use their gifts to love others, serve with joy, and overcome evil with good, showing how we can be stewards of love and kindness.

Two examples of good stewards in the Bible are Joseph, who wisely managed resources during a famine in Egypt, and Nehemiah, who led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and managed the people with faith and care. These examples show that stewardship is not just about money—it’s about using everything we have to glorify God and help others.

Explain the parable of talents. How can you relate this parable with Christian

stewardship.

The Parable of the Talents teaches that God gives us gifts, like time, skills, and money, and wants us to use them well. In the story, two servants use their money wisely and make more, but one hides it and does nothing. The master rewards the two and is upset with the one who wasted it.

This shows that Christian stewardship means using what God gives us to do good and serve others. God wants us to be responsible and not waste our gifts.

“The world and its desire are _____________ away, but those who do the __________ of

God live _______” (1 St. John 2: 17)

“The world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of

God live forever” (1 St. John 2: 17)

Why did Knai Thoma and the Syriac migrators come to Kodungaloor, Kerala, India in

AD 345?

To help and lead the local Christians in Kerla, India.

The people who came with Knai Thoma belonged to how many clans?

Seven Clans

Name the Israelite tribe to which the Syriac migrators in question #1 belonged to?

Benjamin and Judah.

Explain the practice of endogamy of the Knananites.

The social identity of Knananites comes from endogamy and is a tradition where membership only comes from birth from a Knanaya mother and father.

Explain nine similarities of Knanaya traditions with ancient Jewish customs.

The marriage customs come from jewish practices.

Name the son of Tobit who was instructed to get a wife from his tribe.

Tobias

Why did God choose the second son of Isaac? What is the name of the second son?

The name of the son was Jacob and God chose him because he maintained the ethnicity of his clan.

What is the significance of the Persian cross on the upper section of the logo of the

Knanaya Archdiocese?

The Persian cross represents the Persian cross brought to the knanaya church by the forefathers due to migration.

There is a picture of the Bible underneath the Persian cross in the upper section of the

logo of the Knanaya Archdiocese. True or False?

True

What is the significance of the cross in the lower section of the logo of the Knanaya

Archdiocese?

The cross represents the presence of christians in Kerla who were converted by St. Thomas.

How many boats are in the lower section of the logo of the Knanaya Archdiocese?

Three.

What are the three components in the upper section of the logo of the Knanaya

Archdiocese representing the Holy throne of Antioch?

The hand cross of bishop, the staff of bishop, the turban of bishop.

Who was the first administrator of the administrative unit of the Knanaya Archdiocese in

North America?

Simon Achen

Name the first Knanaya church in North America.

St. Peters Church in Yonkers

In which year was the unincorporated administrative unit of the Knanaya Archdiocese in

North America was incorporated as the diocese?

1992

Which Knanaya Metropolitan incorporated the administrative unit of Knanaya

Archdiocese in North America as diocese in year 1982?

Mor Clemis Abraham Metropolitan

Name the first Knanaya priest who came to New York for studying theology in 1958.

Simon Achen

What do the below abbreviations represent?

MSKA, NAKA, NAKC, NAKSSO, NAKYO, NAKWO

All start with North American Knanaya (NAKA) Association (NAKSSO) sunday school orgainization, (NAKYO) Youth orgainization (NAKWO) Women’s orgainization (MSKA) Malankara suriyani Kananya Association, (NAKC) Constitution,