The Evangelizing Mission of the Church

Mar Ivanios viewed the Church’s mission as fundamentally rooted in Christ’s Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). For him, evangelization was not an optional endeavor but the very essence of the Church’s identity and purpose. He believed that the Church was called to be a living witness to the Gospel, reaching out to the world in love, service, and proclamation of the truth of Christ.

Drawing inspiration from the missionary zeal of the apostles, Mar Ivanios sought to reawaken this apostolic fervor in the Malankara Church. Through his theological reflections, ecclesial leadership, and practical initiatives—particularly the founding of the Bethany Ashram—he aimed to transform the Church into a dynamic, missionary community that was faithful to its calling while rooted in the cultural and spiritual ethos of India.

The Biblical and Apostolic Foundation of Mission
Mar Ivanios grounded his vision of evangelization in the scriptural mandate given by Christ to the apostles:

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21).

For Mar Ivanios, this commission established the Church as a missionary body, called to carry forward Christ’s work of salvation. He believed that the Church’s mission extended to all humanity, transcending cultural, linguistic, and geographical boundaries. This understanding was informed by his deep study of Church history and the lives of the apostles, particularly St. Thomas, who is believed to have brought Christianity to India.

Mar Ivanios argued:

“The Church, as the Body of Christ, exists for the salvation of the world. It cannot remain inward-looking or passive but must be actively engaged in proclaiming the Gospel to all nations and all peoples.”¹

Evangelization as the Church’s Essential Identity
He emphasized that evangelization was not merely an activity or program of the Church but its essential identity. For Mar Ivanios, a Church that did not evangelize had failed in its vocation and mission. He often critiqued the complacency and inward focus he observed in the Malankara Church, calling for a radical renewal of its missionary spirit.

“To proclaim the Gospel is the highest act of love. The Church cannot be content with preserving its traditions and institutions; it must share the joy of salvation with the world.”²

To actualize his vision of a missionary Church, Mar Ivanios established the Bethany Ashram in 1919, which he envisioned as both a center for spiritual renewal and a base for evangelization.

Spiritual Renewal as the Foundation of Mission
Mar Ivanios believed that the effectiveness of evangelization depended on the spiritual vitality of the Church. He founded the Bethany Ashram as a monastic community dedicated to prayer, asceticism, and apostolic service. Modeled on the Rule of St. Basil, the Ashram emphasized a life of simplicity, renunciation, and deep union with God. He described the Ashram’s mission as follows:

“The Bethany Ashram is a place where the fire of faith is kept alive, not only for the sanctification of its members but also for the illumination of those who dwell in darkness.”³

A Center for Catechesis and Outreach
The Bethany Ashram became a hub for catechetical instruction and evangelistic outreach, particularly among marginalized communities in central Kerala. The monks of Bethany engaged in preaching missions, organized spiritual conventions, and visited homes to share the message of the Gospel. Mar Ivanios blended Western missionary methods with Indian cultural practices, adopting strategies such as:

• Vernacular preaching: Communicating the Gospel in Malayalam to make it accessible to the local population.
• Indian ascetic traditions: Presenting the Christian faith in a manner that resonated with India’s rich spiritual heritage, including its emphasis on renunciation and contemplation.
• Social service: Engaging in acts of charity and education as expressions of the Gospel message.

The Bethany Ashram also produced catechetical materials, hymnals, and devotional literature, making the teachings of the Church more widely available to the faithful.

Inclusion of Women in Evangelization
Recognizing the critical role of women in the Church’s mission, Mar Ivanios founded the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ (Bethany Madhom) in 1925. This women’s monastic community shared the same charism of prayer, service, and evangelization as the Bethany monks. The Sisters played a vital role in catechesis, education, and pastoral care, particularly among women and children⁴.

Mar Ivanios was deeply concerned about what he perceived as the Malankara Church’s historical failure to embrace its missionary vocation. He lamented the fact that, despite its apostolic origins and rich spiritual heritage, the Church had largely confined itself to preserving its internal traditions rather than reaching out to those outside its fold.

A Call for Renewal and Mission
In his writings and speeches, Mar Ivanios often criticized the Church’s inward focus and its preoccupation with legal disputes, such as the litigation over the Vattipanam (a fixed deposit of Church funds). He argued that such disputes distracted the Church from its true mission and purpose. He wrote:

“The Malankara Church, which claims an apostolic origin, has failed to fulfill the missionary mandate of Christ. It has become inward-looking, concerned with its own survival rather than the salvation of souls. This is a grave neglect of our calling.”⁵

A Vision for an Outward-Looking Church
Mar Ivanios envisioned a renewed Malankara Church that would reclaim its apostolic identity by engaging in evangelization. He called for the clergy and laity to be trained and equipped for missionary work, emphasizing the need for both spiritual formation and practical skills. He proposed:

Establishing mission schools and training centers to prepare clergy and lay missionaries.

Creating outreach programs to serve the poor and marginalized as a witness to the Gospel.

Fostering a spirit of prayer and discernment to guide the Church’s missionary efforts.

“The Church must be a light to the nations, bearing witness to Christ not only in word but in deed. Our faith must be active, dynamic, and outward-looking.”⁶

A Reinvigorated Missionary Spirit
Mar Ivanios’ leadership and vision sparked a revival of missionary zeal in the Malankara Church, particularly through the work of the Bethany Ashram and its affiliated institutions. His emphasis on spiritual renewal as the foundation of mission continues to inspire the Church’s evangelistic efforts.

A Model for Inculturation
By integrating Indian cultural practices into the Church’s missionary outreach, Mar Ivanios demonstrated how the Gospel could be presented in ways that resonate with local contexts. His approach has been widely recognized as a model for inculturation, blending the universality of the Christian message with the particularities of Indian culture.

A Lasting Challenge to the Church
Mar Ivanios’ critique of the Church’s historical lack of missionary outreach remains a challenge to Christians today. His call for an active and outward-looking faith invites the Church to continually renew its commitment to proclaiming the Gospel in a world that is ever in need of Christ’s love and truth.

For Mar Ivanios, evangelization was at the very heart of the Church’s identity and mission. Through his founding of the Bethany Ashram, his theological reflections, and his critique of the Church’s shortcomings, he sought to awaken the Malankara Church to its apostolic calling. His vision of a missionary Church, rooted in spiritual renewal and cultural engagement, continues to inspire the Malankara Catholic Church and serves as a model for the broader universal Church.

1. Mar Ivanios, Reflections on the Missionary Mandate, 1928.
2. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC, The Ecclesial Vision of Mar Ivanios, Bethany Publications, 2015.
3. Cyril Malancharuvil, The Syro-Malankara Church: Its Past and Present, Malankara Library, 2002.
4. Bar Sleeba OIC, The Bethany Ashram and Its Mission, 1980.
5. Vatican Archives, Correspondence on Evangelization and Renewal, 1927.
6. Placid Podipara, Eastern Christian Witness in India, 1950.