Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist

[9] The order was founded in 1696 by five monks (including Neophytos Nasri) who left the Balamand Monastery to look for a quiet place where to better follow the rule of Saint Basil.

[10] They settled in 1710[11] 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°55′18″N 35°43′58″E / 33.921575°N 35.732780°E / 33.921575; 35.732780).

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.

The female branch of the order; the congregation of Basilian Chouerite Sisters, was founded in 1737 and approved in 1763 by Pope Clement XIII.