Basilian Chouerite Order
Encyclopedia
The Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist is a religious order
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
. The Latin
name of this order is Ordo Basilianus Sancti Iohannis Baptistae, the French
name is Ordre Basilien Chouerite de St. Jean Baptiste, the abbreviation used after the name is B.C.
) who left the Balamand Monastery
to look for a quite place where to better follow the rule of Saint Basil
. The settled in 1710 in the village of Choueir (or Dhour El Shuwayr
, near Khinchara) in Mount Lebanon
using the little church of Saint John the Baptist
, from which they took the name and that is still their motherhouse (33.921575°N 35.732780°W).
In 1733 Abdallah Zakher
set up an Arabic language
printing press
using movable type
at the monastery of Saint John at Choueir, the first home made press in Lebanon. In 1757 Pope Benedict XIV
approved their particular rules, and the final approval from Rome was given in 1772.
The Basilian Salvatorian Order soon became one of the two main religious orders of the Melkite Catholic Church. The other order was the Basilian Salvatorian Order
. According to their tradition, the Basilian Salvatorian Order had a more missionary aim, while the Basilian Chouerite Order was more contemplative. The Basilian Salvatorian Order recruited in the areas of Damascus
and South Lebanon
, while the Basilian Chouerite Order recruited in the areas of Aleppo
, Homs
, North Lebanon and Galilee
. Attempts to unite these two orders in the 18th century failed: the opposition between them and between the different communities from which they recruit members is an important aspect to understand in the early history of the Melkite Catholic Church.
Between 1824 and 1832 the order split in two branches: the Alepins (formed mainly by monks who came from Aleppo
area), and Baladites or Chouerite (who came mainly from Lebanon
and Galilee
). The order founded its seminary
in 1880 and run many parishes in the Middle East
. Three Melkite Patriarchs and about 36 bishops were members of the Basilian Chouerites.
The female branch of the order (the The Congregation of Basilian Chouerite Sisters) was founded in 1737 and approved in 1763 by Pope Clement XIII
. The first house of this congregation was the Monastery of the Annunciation at Zouk Mikael
.
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Melkite Greek Catholic Church
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See as part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Melkites, Byzantine Rite Catholics of mixed Eastern Mediterranean and Greek origin, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, Syria, of...
. The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name of this order is Ordo Basilianus Sancti Iohannis Baptistae, the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
name is Ordre Basilien Chouerite de St. Jean Baptiste, the abbreviation used after the name is B.C.
History
This order was found in 1696 by five monks (including Neophytos NasriNeophytos Nasri
Neophytos Nasri was bishop of Saidnaya of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and took a preeminent part in the 1724 split of the Melkite Church.-Life:...
) who left the Balamand Monastery
Balamand Monastery
The Balamand Monastery , is an Antiochian Orthodox monastery founded in 1157 in Balamand near Tripoli, Lebanon.- References :...
to look for a quite place where to better follow the rule of Saint Basil
Basilian monk
Basilian monks are monks who follow the "Rule" of Saint Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea. The chief importance of the monastic rules and institutes of St. Basil lies in the fact that to this day his reconstruction of the monastic life is the basis of most of the monasticism practiced in the...
. The settled in 1710 in the village of Choueir (or Dhour El Shuwayr
Dhour El Shuwayr
Dhour El Choueir is a mountain town in Lebanon . It lies slightly north of the main Beirut Damascus highway. It overlooks the city of Beirut and the Mediterranean sea. It is 30 km from Beirut and 42 km from Beirut International Airport.It is one of Mount Lebanon's most favored summer...
, near Khinchara) in Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
using the little church of Saint John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
, from which they took the name and that is still their motherhouse (33.921575°N 35.732780°W).
In 1733 Abdallah Zakher
Abdallah Zakher
Abdallah Zakher was a leading Melkite Christian at the time of the Church's re-establishment of Communion with Rome and among other accomplishments he set up the first printing press in the Middle East....
set up an Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
using movable type
Movable type
Movable type is the system of printing and typography that uses movable components to reproduce the elements of a document ....
at the monastery of Saint John at Choueir, the first home made press in Lebanon. In 1757 Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
approved their particular rules, and the final approval from Rome was given in 1772.
The Basilian Salvatorian Order soon became one of the two main religious orders of the Melkite Catholic Church. The other order was the Basilian Salvatorian Order
Basilian Salvatorian Order
The Basilian Salvatorian Order is a religious order of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The Latin name of this order is Ordo Basilianus Sanctissimi Salvatoris, the French name is Ordre Basilien Salvatorien. The name cames from its motherhouse, the Holy Saviour monastery, The Basilian Salvatorian...
. According to their tradition, the Basilian Salvatorian Order had a more missionary aim, while the Basilian Chouerite Order was more contemplative. The Basilian Salvatorian Order recruited in the areas of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and South Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, while the Basilian Chouerite Order recruited in the areas of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
, North Lebanon and Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
. Attempts to unite these two orders in the 18th century failed: the opposition between them and between the different communities from which they recruit members is an important aspect to understand in the early history of the Melkite Catholic Church.
Between 1824 and 1832 the order split in two branches: the Alepins (formed mainly by monks who came from Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
area), and Baladites or Chouerite (who came mainly from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
). The order founded its seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in 1880 and run many parishes in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Three Melkite Patriarchs and about 36 bishops were members of the Basilian Chouerites.
The female branch of the order (the The Congregation of Basilian Chouerite Sisters) was founded in 1737 and approved in 1763 by Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII , born Carlo della Torre di Rezzonico, was Pope from 16 July 1758 to 2 February 1769....
. The first house of this congregation was the Monastery of the Annunciation at Zouk Mikael
Zouk Mikael
Zouk Mikael is a town in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon. The town is famous for its Ottoman era old souk, which was renovated and restored in 1995...
.