Jump to content

Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other Basilian orders, seeBasilian.
Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist
Ordo Basilianus Sancti Iohannis Baptistæ(Latin)[1]
AbbreviationB.C.(post-nominal letters)[2]
Formation1697;327 years ago(1697)[3]
FounderNeophytos Nasri
TypeMonastic Order of Pontifical Right (for Men)[4]
HeadquartersCouvent Saint-Jean, Khonchara, B.P. 188, Bikfaya, Lebanon[5]
Membership
45 members (36 priests) as of 2018[6]
Superior General
Archimandrite Elie Maalouf, B.C.[7]
Parent organization
Melkite Greek Catholic Church of the Byzantine Tradition[8]

TheBasilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist(Latin:Ordo Basilianus Sancti Iohannis Baptistæ) is aMelkite Greek Catholicmonastic order of Pontifical Right for Men. The members of the Order add the nominalB.Cafter their names to indicate their membership in the Order.[9]

History[edit]

The order was founded in 1696 by five monks (includingNeophytos Nasri) who left theBalamand Monasteryto look for a quiet place where to better follow therule of Saint Basil.[10]They settled in 1710[11]in the village of Choueir (orDhour El Shuwayr,nearKhinchara) inMount Lebanonusing the little church ofSaint John the Baptist,from which they took the name and that is still their motherhouse (33°55′18″N35°43′58″E/ 33.921575°N 35.732780°E/33.921575; 35.732780).

In 1733Abdallah Zakherset up anArabic languageprinting pressusingmovable typeat the monastery of Saint John at Choueir, the first home made press in Lebanon.[12]In 1757Pope Benedict XIVapproved their particular rules, and the final approval fromRomewas given in 1772.

The Basilian Chouerite Order soon became one of the two main religious orders of the Melkite Catholic Church. The other order was theBasilian 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 ofDamascusand SouthLebanon,while the Basilian Chouerite Order recruited in the areas ofAleppo,Homs,North Lebanon andGalilee.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 into two branches: theBasilian Alepian Order(formed mainly by monks who came fromAleppoarea), andBaladitesor Basilian Chouerite Order (who came mainly fromLebanonandGalilee). The order founded itsseminaryin 1880 and run many parishes in theMiddle East.Three Melkite Patriarchs and about 36 bishops were members of the Basilian Chouerites.

The female branch of the order; the congregation ofBasilian Chouerite Sisters,was founded in 1737 and approved in 1763 byPope Clement XIII.The first house of this congregation was the Monastery of the Annunciation atZouk Mikael.[13]

See also[edit]

Maronite Religious Institutes (Orders)[edit]

Melkite Religious Institutes (Orders)[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^http://www.gcatholic.org/orders/048.htm
  2. ^http://www.gcatholic.org/orders/048.htm
  3. ^http://www.gcatholic.org/orders/048.htm
  4. ^http://www.gcatholic.org/orders/048.htm
  5. ^http://www.gcatholic.org/orders/048.htm
  6. ^http://www.gcatholic.org/orders/048.htm
  7. ^http://www.gcatholic.org/orders/048.htm
  8. ^"Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist (Melkite Greek Institute of Consecrated Life - Men) [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
  9. ^*catholicdoors /misc/abbrev.htm Catholic Orders Abbreviations
  10. ^"Ordre Basilien Chouerite de St. Jean Baptiste - Fondé en 1696, Au Liban".Opus Libani. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-11-13.Retrieved2009-03-12.
  11. ^Saint Joseph Melkite Catholic Church
  12. ^Joseph Abou Nohra."Les Origines et le Rayonnement culturel de la première imprimerie à caractères Arabes au Liban (1733)".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-09-05.Retrieved2009-03-12.
  13. ^"The Congregation of Basilian Chouerite Sisters".St Joseph Melkite Catholic Church Melbourne. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-27.Retrieved2009-03-12.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Basilian_Chouerite_Order_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist&oldid=1057325933"