Kathanar (Malayalam: കത്തനാർ) is an ancient Nasrani Mappila term in Malayalam that means priest. The term is still in colloquial usage, although not in regular formal use. It was anglicized in archaic English texts as Cattanar or Kattanar, especially during 19th century CE or earlier.

Due to the widespread usage of English terminology such as Father, Reverend, Vicar or the Malayalam word Achen (Malayalam: അച്ചന്‍) or the Syriac word Kasseessa (Malayalam: കശ്ശീശ്ശ), it mostly fell out of usage in contemporary formal contexts, but recently found a revival among Nasrani Mappilas.

Notable Kathanars

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pages from History: 2nd December, 1842 – Birth of Iype Thoma Kathanar (Kovoor Achen)". Nalloor Library. 2014-11-27. Retrieved 2017-12-01.