Nilo Borgia , a Basilian monk from Piana degli Albanesi in Grottaferrata (Italy), was sent to Mezzojuso in 1920 to tend a colony of Albanians and restore a monastery, the old San Basilio monastery that was there. From his work with the Albanian community, the monk understood that a more continuous pastoral work between them was necessary. To do this, he founded in 1921, together with the sisters Helena and Inés Raparelli, a religious congregation with the name of Daughters of Santa Macrina, under the Rule of Saint Basil.. The project was revolutionary for the time, because, apart from serving the Italian-Albanian population, the nuns would serve as a bridge for dialogue with the eastern churches.

On July 30, 1930, the sisters made their religious profession. Since then Helena became known as Macrina and Inés as Eumelia. Macrina was the first superior general until her death, while the founder was the spiritual director of the new institute. The Holy See approved the draft of the Basilian life of St. Macrina in 1972.