Welcome to th Site of the Congregation of the Basilian Chouetires

 The congregation of the Basilian Chouerites Nuns is a Congregation of pontifical canon, whose vows are temporary and permanent, subjected to the Apostolic Holy See and belonging to the Greek Melkite Catholic Church the rite of which it follows. It draws its name of « Basilian » from Saint Basil the Great (329-379), author of the monastic rules of life from which it has been inspired in the establishment of its constitutions ; as it also draws its designation of « Chouerite » from the name of the convent located near Khenchara village and which bears the name of Saint John of Choueir. This designation is explained by the fact that it was the fathers of Saint John who contributed towards the foundation, in Zouk Michael, at Kesrouan, of the congregation of the Sisters and took care of its spiritual and material management from 1730 till 1953.

Thanks to the consecration of ten devouts young ladies coming from Aleppo, helped and guided by the order of the Basilian Chouerites Fathers, Our Lady of Annunciation Convent, located upon a superb hill of Zouk Mikhael, at Kesrouan, had been completed in the course of the year 1737. Founded in 1730, the Congregation was enclosed ; it developped with the influx of souls willing to live the evangelic perfection.

In 1940, and in response to the rewuirements of the Holy Church, the Congregation sensed the necessity to change direction, and to lead a life which joins the prayer and the missionary activity. The Holy See encourage this change and, by a decree on the 2^nd June, 1953, it proclaims the Basilian Chouerites Nuns a Congregation whose vows are temporary and permanent.  

Since that date, the Congregation gets ready to face a new stage in preparing its Nuns to the missionary life : Schools, hospitals, dispensaries, convalescent homes, orphenages and others……., and giving a great impostance to the writings and the teachings of Saint Basil. It is from him that it adopts its famous monastic motto : « the life of the monk is prayer and work life. »