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Also known as
John Kunsevich; Josaphat Kuncevyc; Josaphat of Polotsk; Jozofat Kuncewicz
Profile
His father was a municipal counselor, and his mother known for her piety.
Raised in the Orthodox Ruthenian Church which, on 23 November 1595 in the
Union of Brest, united with the Church of Rome. Trained as a merchant's
apprentice at Vilna, he was offered partnership in the business, and
marriage to his partner's daughter; feeling the call to religious life, he
declined both. Monk in the Ukrainian Order of Saint Basil (Basilians) in
Vilna at age 20 in 1604, taking the name brother Josaphat. Deacon.
Ordained a Byzantine rite priest in 1609.
Josaphat's superior, Samuel, never accepted unity with Rome, and looked
for a way to fight against Roman Catholicism and the Uniats, the name
given those who brought about and accepted the union of the Churches.
Learning of Samuel's work, and fearing the physical and spiritual damage
it could cause, Josaphat brought it to the attention of his superiors. The
archbishop of Kiev removed Samuel from his post, replacing him with
Josaphat.
Famous preacher. Worked to bring unity among the faithful, and strayed
Christians back to the Church. Bishop of Vitebsk. Most religious, fearing
interference with the natively developed liturgy and customs, did not want
union with Rome. Bishop Josaphat believed unity to be in the best
interests of the Church, and by teaching, clerical reform, and personal
example Josaphat won the greater part of the Orthodox in Lithuania to the
union. Never completely suitable to either side, Roman authorities
sometimes raised objection to Josaphat's Orthodox actions. Archbishop of
Polotsk, Lithuania in 1617.
While Josaphat attended the Diet of Warsaw in 1620, a dissident group,
supported by Cossacks, set up an anti-Uniat bishops for each Uniat one,
spread the accusation that Josaphat had "gone Latin," and that his
followers would be forced to do the same, and placed a usurper on the
archbishop's chair. Despite warnings, John went to Vitebsk, a hotbed of
trouble, to try to correct the misunderstandings, and settle disturbances.
The army remained loyal to the king, who remained loyal to the Union, and
so the army tried to protect Josaphat and his clergy.
Late in 1623 an anti-Uniat priest named Elias shouted insults at Josaphat
from his own courtyard, and tried to force his way into the residence.
When he was removed, a mob assembled and forced his release. Mob mentality
took over, and they invaded the residence. Josaphat tried to insure the
safety of his servants before fleeing himself, but did not get out in
time, and was martyred by the mob. His death was a shock to both sides of
the dispute, brought some sanity and a cooling off period to both sides of
the conflict.
Born
1580 at Volodymyr, Lithuania (modern Ukraine) as John Kunsevyc
Died
struck in the head with a halberd, shot and beaten with staves on 12
November 1623 at Vitebsk, Belarus; body thrown into the Dvina River but
later recovered; buried at Biala, Poland; body found incorrupt after 5
years of death
Beatification: 1643
Canonized: 1876; first Eastern saint canonized by Rome
Patronage: Ukraine
Readings
You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death. You make ambushes for me
everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, and in the
marketplace. I am here among you as a shepherd, and you ought to know that
I would be happy to give my life for you. I am ready to die for the holy
union, for the supremacy of Saint Peter, and of his successor the Supreme
Pontiff.
- Saint Josaphat
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj61.htm
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