Saint Josaphat Kuncevyc

Biography

Saint Josaphat Kuncevyc, also known as Giosafat Kuncewycz, Jehoshaphat Kuncewycz, John Kunsevich, Josaphat Kuntsevych, Josaphat of Polotsk, and Jozofat Kuncewicz, was born in 1580 in Volodymyr, Lithuania (modern Ukraine). His father was a municipal counselor, and his mother was known for her piety. Josaphat was raised in the Orthodox Ruthenian Church, which, on 23 November 1595, united with the Church of Rome in the Union of Brest. At a young age, Josaphat was trained as a merchant's apprentice in Vilna, Lithuania. Despite being offered partnership in the business and marriage to his partner's daughter, he felt a strong call to religious life and declined both opportunities. In 1604, at the age of 20, Josaphat joined the Ukrainian Order of Saint Basil (Basilians) in Vilna, taking the name Brother Josaphat. He became a monk and later ordained as a Byzantine rite priest in 1609. Josaphat's superior, Samuel, opposed the unity with Rome and sought to fight against Roman Catholicism and the Uniats. Recognizing the potential harm this could cause, Josaphat brought Samuel's actions to the attention of his superiors. As a result, the Archbishop of Kiev, Ukraine, removed Samuel from his post and appointed Josaphat as his replacement. Saint Josaphat became renowned for his preaching and worked tirelessly to bring unity among the faithful, encouraging strayed Christians to return to the Church. He was eventually appointed as the Bishop of Vitebsk, Belarus. However, many religious individuals opposed the union with Rome, fearing it would interfere with their natively developed liturgy and customs. Despite facing objections from Roman authorities due to his Orthodox actions, Bishop Josaphat firmly believed that unity was in the best interest of the Church. Through teaching, clerical reform, and personal example, Josaphat managed to win over a significant portion of the Orthodox population in Lithuania to the union. In 1617, Josaphat was consecrated as the Archbishop of Polotsk, Lithuania. During his tenure, he attended the Diet of Warsaw in 1620, where a dissident group supported by Cossacks caused unrest by establishing anti-Uniat bishops and spreading false accusations against Josaphat. They claimed that he had "gone Latin" and that his followers would be forced into adopting Roman Catholic practices. In the face of warnings, Josaphat went to Vitebsk, a volatile hub of trouble, in an effort to rectify misunderstandings and bring calm to the situation. The king's army, remaining loyal to the Union, attempted to protect Josaphat and his clergy. Tragically, in late 1623, an anti-Uniat priest named Elias insulted Josaphat from his own courtyard and attempted to force his way into the residence. After being removed, a mob gathered and demanded his release. The mob eventually invaded the residence. Josaphat, concerned for the safety of his servants, attempted to flee but was unable to escape in time. He was martyred by the mob, struck in the head with a halberd, shot, and beaten with staves on 12 November 1623. His death shocked both sides of the dispute, bringing a period of sanity and cooling off to the conflict. Saint Josaphat is often depicted with a chalice, crown, or as a winged deacon. His feast day is celebrated on 12 November (formerly 14 November). His body was initially thrown into the Dvina River but later recovered and buried at Biala, Poland. Five years after his death, his body was found to be incorrupt. He was beatified on 16 May 1643 by Pope Urban VIII and canonized on 29 June 1867 by Pope Blessed Pius IX. Saint Josaphat holds the distinction of being the first Eastern saint canonized by Rome. He is venerated as the patron saint of the Edmonton, Alberta eparchy, the Toronto, Ontario eparchy, and Ukraine. Saint Josaphat Kuncevyc's life and martyrdom continue to inspire devotion and serve as a testament to his unwavering commitment to promoting unity within the Church.