The Saints: St. Josaphat

1580 - 1623

Feast – Nov. 12

Born Ioann Kuncewycz in Ukraine, he was apprenticed to a merchant in Lithuania, but opted for monastic life there in 1604 and later became abbot. In 1617 he was named archbishop of Polotsk, Byelorussia. This Orthodox diocese was among those in the province of Kiev that entered into communion with Rome in 1595. Josaphat devoted himself to maintaining the union despite opposition. This early ecumenist, whose order became the Basilians of St. Josaphat, was martyred by a mob crying, “Kill the papist!”