The History of the Basilian Salvatorian Order
The formation of the Salvatorian Basilian Order coincided with the period of increased influence of the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle East in the seventeenth century.
In 1683, the Metropolitan of Tyre and Sidon, Efthymios Saïfi, adopted the Catholic faith, becoming the first Greek Catholic eparch of this diocese. The geographical location of the diocese allowed for effective missionary activity among pilgrims going to the Holy Land. The bishop immediately thought of founding an order of missionaries who would also work for the unity of the Orthodox believers with the Holy See. The pious and zealous young priests whom he gathered around him became the nucleus of the first Melkite Order. The founder gave the Order the Rule of St. Basil and consecrated it to the Most Holy Saviour.
THE MIRACLE WHICH INSPIRED THE FOUNDATION OF THE MONASTERY OF SAINT SAVIOR BY BISHOP EFTIMIOS SAIFI
While Bishop Eftimios Saifi was visiting his Diocese, looking for members of his flock and fulfilling his duty as shepherd, he arrived in Joun, Lebanon. Many people came from the surrounding villages equipped with fire arms as was their custom because of the fear and lack of peace in the region. Bishop Saifi was accompanied by one of the deacons, Athanasius Nasr, from Gharifee. Deacon Athanasius took a fire arm from one of the men and examined it closely because it was the first fire arm introduced into this region of the Middle East with a trigger instead of a wick. The fire arm had come from France. His hand inadvertently touched the trigger and fired the gun. The bullet hit one of Bishop Eftimios’ priests in the chest; this priest was known for his great virtue, especially acts of charity and mercy. The priest fell to the ground. Bishop Saifi cried out loudly and with great fervor as was his habit: “O Savior of the World!” After the bishop had so exclaimed, the priest replied, “Do not be afraid, my master, I am alive.” What a marvel ! The priest was not harmed at all. He stood up immediately, and those present came and opened his clothes, and they found all the lead around his navel and on his flesh without any wound.
At that moment Bishop Saifi vowed to erect a monastery in the Savior’s Name, both in memory of the miracle and as a shelter for his religious. Bishop Eftimios asked those present from the village for a suitable place to fulfill his vow and good resolution. They offered their advise in showing him a ruined farm in the forest, ‘Farm of Mashmooshee’ in the outskirts of Joun in the district of Saida in the Maanee Shouf. The property was in the district of Mount Lebanon pertaining to Emir Haidar Shahab. Immediately Bishop Saifi, with some of the inhabitants of Joun, and also with the religious that had accompanied him went to the ‘Farm of Mashmooshee’ to see the property and visit the farmers there, who he was told were Melkites.