The Congregation of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ was founded by His Grace Mar Ivanios in 1925 in the Jacobite Church. "Sanyasam", the idea of dedicated life for women was unknown till then in the Malankara Church. With the founder, the whole Congregation - the 10 members of the Community - re-united with the Catholic Church in 1930.The first ten members were Mother Shaina( Peace), MotherHuba(Love), Mother Denaha(Epiphany), Mother Salga( Ray of Light), Mother Maxa (Meekness), Mother Thybus (Grace), Mother Basim( Goodness), Mother Sybar ( Long Suffering), Mother Hymnus ( Faith), Mother Trisus( Uprightness). The Congregation was given Pontifical Status in 1956. Since the re-union, the Congregation is growing rapidly. There are five Provinces namely Trivandrum, Tiruvalla, Bathery, Pathanamthitta and Muvattupuzha under one Mother General. There are more than 830 Sisters, 11 Novices and about 75 Candidates in the Congregation. The Sisters are working in India and abroad. The Generalate is in Kottayam. Bethany - an active Congregation, lays emphasis on liturgical life, as a life of prayer and contemplation.

The specific objective of the Congregation is to offer our humble contribution towards the spiritual renewal of the Church in India in General, and of the Malankara Church in particular. The uplift of women and their all -round development form an integral part of this objective. Today the Community is engaged in the Union of Christian brothren, Proclamation of faith, Welfare of women, Education, Caring for the sick, Protection of the orphans and the destitute, Apostolate of the press, and social service activities. Thus the members are working wholeheartedly towards the attainment of the goal by loving Christ firmly and following Him closely in His hidden life of prayer and His public life of holy deeds. The specific feature of our religious life is to imitate the simple life of our Lord who in union with God the Father in prayer, went about doing good to all ,in complete renunciation and simplicity of religious life