“It is better to serve God;
But sublime is to possess Him”
Servant of God: Mar IVANIOS
About Us
Deogracia Bangalore Province
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.