INTRODUCTION

 The Congregation of the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ(SIC) has the unique background of being an integral part of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of Kerala founded in 1925 as part of a renewal movement called “ Bethany”( hence the name  Bethany sisters) by its founder Bishop  Mar Ivanios. The entire group of ten members, along with the founder got reunited with Rome in  September 1932 and became the first members of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. When the Syro Malankara hierarchy was established in 1933 with two dioceses, the sisters were sent to serve the two dioceses (Trivandrum Arch Diocese and Thiruvalla Diocese). By the grace of God Almighty and the benevolence of His Excellency Cardinal Eugine Tisserant, head of the Sacred Congregation of the Oriental Rites the SIC Congregation was raised to the Pontifical Status on the 6th of August 1956 by the “Decretum  Laudis”. It was implemented through Very. Rev. Fr. Placid CMI the Apostolic Visitor on 19th August 1956.  The two Diocesan Congregations were unified under one Mother General, and they were made provinces of the unified congregation.  The General Body as well as the two Provincial Bodies were elected, the Generalate was established at Thirumoolapuram and Novitiate at Nalanchira.  The implementation was to come into force on the 21st of August 1956.

 The building set apart for the first Generalate was the guest house at Thirumoolapuram Convent used by Mar Ivanios while he came to see the first 10 members from 1920 onwards. It was in the chapel of this building, that the first three members made their profession on 21st September 1925.

The first General Body consisted of Mother Maxa SIC (TVM) - Mother General Mother Rose SIC (TVLA) - Assistant General (1st Councillor) Mother Salga SIC (TVM) - 2nd Councillor & Secretary Mother Agnes SIC (TVLA) - 3rd Councillor Mother Semaha SIC (TVM) - 4th Councillor Sr. Mary Gertrude SIC (TVLA) – Procurator General Rev. Fr. Placid CMI helped the team to establish the Generalate and with the preparation of the first Constitution/Holy rule, which was ready by 14-5-1959, and approved by the Sacred Congregation for Oriental Rites.

SHIFTING OF THE GENERALATE TO KOTTAYAM

After two terms of Mother Maxa as Superior General Sr. Philomena SIC (TVLA) was chosen Superior General in April 1968. Though the construction of the Generalate was started at a site at Kalathipady Kottayam on July 29th 1972, the building could only be blessed on 31st March 1975, during the term of Mother Semaha (TVM) 1974_ 1980. Mar Athanasios Bishop of Thiruvalla blessed the Generalate, and the Generalate team moved to the house on the same day.
Experimentation Period 1968- 1977

Pope John 23rd inaugurated the 2nd Vatican Council on 1962 October 11th with the theme “aggiornamento” which lasted till 1965 December 8th. Pope Paul VI succeeded him after the demise of Pope John 23rd on June 3rd 1963. The whole Catholic Church was subjected to a renewal in the light of the Vatican Council Documents. Accordingly, the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ Congregation held the period from 1968-1977 reviewing and renovating the Congregation's aim, outlook and its role in the universal Church. With the help of resource persons like Rev. Fr. Cyril OIC, Rev. Fr. Pathiparambil, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Panicker and other teams of religious priests involved in “Renewal programmes”. The constitution was rewritten in 1968 and in 1974 general synaxis session, finalized in a special session in 1977 and submitted for approval to the Sacred Congregation for Oriental Rites. Mother Semaha was the Superior General. The Generalate undertook the heavy burden and was successful in getting the final Constitution sanctioned in 1980. (Prot. No322/70).

EXPANSION OF THE GENERALATE

The Generalate was the venue for the formation of the juniors especially before the final profession, for the secular studies and courses in and around Kottayam. The celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the congregation (1925- 1975) was celebrated at Kottayam. The Generalate opened two German settlements in 1984-85  in Stuttgart in the Diocese of the Rottenburg by sending sisters to care for the aged. This made the Generalate financially in a position to manage praiseworthy ventures. However, the opening of a prayer House at Kurishumala, Vagamon at a site adjacent to the Ashram donated by the great Abbot, Francis Acharya of Kurishumala Ashram was appreciated by all. The building was blessed in Dec.1992