Overview

Bethany Ashram, also called the Order of the Imitation of Christ (O.I.C.), was founded by Fr. P. T. Geevarghese Panickaruveettil O.I.C. (who later became Archbishop Mar Ivanios O.I.C.) on 15 August 1919 at a place called Perunad, Ranni. Bethany Ashram was the first monastic community in the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church at that time with a unique vision and life-style. The founder Mar Ivanios O.I.C. aimed at bringing together the monastic ideals of the Christian East and Indian Sannyasam in a particular life-style which is actualised in a life of intense prayers and apostolic activities. The name Bethany Ashram itself points to this fact. Simple and austere life, atmosphere of intense prayer and solitude, saffron (Kavi) habit, vegetarian food, life in common etc, were some of the basic features of this life style. August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Monasticism in Christianity is a family of similar traditions that began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, modeled upon scriptural examples and ideals, but not mandated as an institution by the Scriptures. ... HH Mor Ignatios Zakka I Iwas The Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, or sometimes called Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, an Orthodox church in Malankara (Kerala) is a branch and an integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church with the Patriarch of Antioch, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas... ... Vegetable sushi Vegetarian cuisine is cookery of food that meets vegetarian ethical principles and health standards. ...

Soon after its foundation, Bethany Ashram became the pilgrim centre of the Malankara Church giving solace to the spiritually starved people. In 1930 most of its members joined their founder on his way to union with the Catholic Church as the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and Bethany Ashram remained the cradle of the historic Reunion Movement. This event ushered in a new era in the life and growth of Bethany Ashram. The members were initially confined to the activities directly related to Reunion Movement. But later, along with that, began to undertake a wide range of apostolic activities with an "All India Missionary Vision'. In 1966 the Congregation was raised to Pontifical Status. The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Malankara catholic church. ...

Generalate

After the reunion to the Catholic Church, the Generalate of the Order of the Imitation of Christ was at Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1971 it was shifted to Vadavathoor, Kottayam. Very Rev. Fr. George Thomas Kallunkal, OIC is the present Superior General. Nalanchira is a suburb of Thiruvananthapuram the capital of Kerala State,it is situated between Mannanthala and Paruthippara. ... Thiruvananthapuram (Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം), formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. ... Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. ...

Present Address:

Bethany Ashram Generalate

P.B.No.6

Vadavathoor - 686 010

Kottayam

Provinces

The General Chapter of the Order of the Imitation of Christ held in the year 1998, decided to establish a provincial system in the Congregation and so it formed two provinces, namely Navajeevan Provinces, with it headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram and Navajyothi Province with its headquarters in Aluva. Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Reji Padinjattemelethil OIC and Very Rev. Fr. Chacko Aerath OIC are the present Provincials of these Provinces respectively. Thiruvananthapuram (Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം), formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. ... Aluva--Malayalam-ആലുവ (Alwaye) is a town north of Kochi in Ernakulam district of Kerala state in South India. ... A provincial superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the orders superior general and exercising a general supervision over all the local superiors in a territorial division of the order called a province (not to be confused with an ecclesiastical province which is a group...

At present the OIC Congregation has

• Priests: 104
• Brothers: 10
• Ashrams:
• Dayara(formed house): 4
• Zoor Dayara: 20
• Mission Mandiram: 8
• Residential Institution: 2
• Institution: 36

Those studying for the priesthood are doing their priestly formation in different houses. 'Bethany Vedavijnana Peeth' in Pune is the Major Seminary of the Congregation. Pune (पुणे in Marathi), formerly known as Punavadi and Poona (पूना by British), is located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. ...

Holidays for the Bethany Institutions

• July 15 : Mar Ivanios Day
• July 29 : Bethany Day

July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ...

Present General Governing Body

• Superior General : Very Rev. Fr. George Thomas Kallunkal, OIC
• Councillors : Rev. Fr. Jerome Peedikaparampil, OIC
  • Rev. Fr. Sebstian J. Kuttickattu, OIC
  • Rev. Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil, OIC
  • Rev. Fr. Joseph Valakuzhy, OIC
• Procurator General : Rev. Fr. Chrysostom Kulathintemelethil, OIC
• Secretary General : Rev. Fr. Sylvester Kanjiramukalil, OIC

External links

• The order's website
• Information on the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church