“It is better to serve God; But sublime is to possess Him”

The Congregation of the Order of the Imitation of Christ is also known as Bethany Congregation. The religious Congregation was founded by Servant of God Mar Ivanios OIC in 1919 August 15 at Mundanmala, Perunad in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India. The Congregation is an autonomous Congregation having Pontifical status and rights and is rooted in Syro Malankara Rite, following Antiochian liturgy. It is the first indigenous Religious Congregation started in the Malankara Church and the congregation with unique feature of harmonious blend of Christianity with the Indian Spiritual Culture, the Antiochian liturgy and the Catholic faith. Bethany Ashram entered into Catholic Communion in the year 1930 and was raised to Pontifical status by Rome in 1966.