Saint Josaphat, a bishop of the Eastern Rite, is commemorated as a martyr for ecclesiastical unity, having lost his life striving to reconcile a segment of the Orthodox Church with the Roman Catholic Church.

The Great Schism of 1054, marking the division between the Eastern Church in Constantinople and the Western Church in Rome, stemmed from longstanding cultural, political, and theological discord. A significant episode in this schism was the excommunication of the patriarch of Constantinople by Cardinal Humbert in 1054, amid controversies over liturgical practices, clerical marriage, and the Filioque clause regarding the Holy Spirit’s procession.

Centuries later, in what is now Belarus and Ukraine, then under the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a decision was made at the Synod of Brest in 1595-96 by the Orthodox metropolitan of Kiev and other bishops to bring their flock into communion with Rome. Josaphat Kunsevich, who would later become a central figure in this movement, was a young boy at the time.

Josaphat’s early life was marked by a turn from business and a potential marriage to religious devotion. Entering the Holy Trinity monastery in Vilna in 1604, he found kindred spirits in two Jesuits, a rector, and Joseph Benjamin Rutsky, who shared his zeal for reunification with Rome. Together, they laid plans for ecclesiastical communion and monastic reform.

The paths of Josaphat and Rutsky diverged as they pursued their vocations, with Josaphat founding new monastic houses and Rutsky becoming the metropolitan of Kiev. Josaphat’s ascetic reform efforts were met with resistance, yet his persuasive and compassionate approach eventually brought about change.

As bishop first of Vitebsk and then Polotsk starting in 1617, Josaphat faced a dilapidated church infrastructure, moral laxity among the clergy, and general disinterest in pastoral duties. He addressed these challenges by convening synods, instituting a catechism, and enforcing clergy conduct, all while exemplifying the virtues he preached.

Despite Josaphat’s efforts, Orthodox separatists established rival bishops, leading to civil unrest and division. The King of Poland’s support for Josaphat as the legitimate archbishop sparked riots and dissent. Even Catholics, who should have been allies due to Josaphat’s commitment to the Byzantine rite, opposed him.

In October 1623, aware of the dangers he faced, Josaphat returned to Vitebsk to attempt peacemaking. His nonviolent stance and determination to die for the Church’s unity if necessary were manifest. However, a confrontation ensued when separatists seized an opportunity to provoke violence, and Josaphat was murdered by a mob, his body desecrated and cast into a river.

In the aftermath, the Jewish community of Vitebsk bravely defended Josaphat’s followers and openly decried the violence, while Catholics hid in fear. The brutal killing eventually swayed public opinion towards unity, and even Josaphat’s adversary, Archbishop Meletius Smotritsky, reconciled with Rome. In 1867, Josaphat was canonized, becoming the first saint from the Eastern Church to be formally recognized by Rome.

Photo credit: Misko3 via Wikimedia Commons
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14 COMMENTS

  1. God bless this holy man! Thank you Jesus for his sacrifice. May the schism end soon. May his bloodshed not be forgotten. We need to unify, please pray for us dear St Josaphat! God bless the Jews in this instance for mourning this great saint!

  2. I have prayed many times at the tomb of St. Josaphat in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Roma, where his body lies visible under a side altar, behind glass. He is dressed as a byzantine-rite bishop. Indeed, thanks to St. Josaphat’s courage, the Byzantine Catholic Church still exists today. And I am sure that God looks much more favourably upon the souls of the Jews who showed such courage, charity and mercy, than upon the Roman-Rite Catholics who hid themselves out of fear, and the Eastern-Orthodox who, whilst professing the Master, martyred His Servant.

  3. May the feast day of St. Josaphat on this day o! LORD, GOD bring to perfection JESUS’ prayer ” … that they may be one …”
    May those who often join the crowd come to apply self-recollection & wisdom before any such action through CHRIST our Lord. Happy Heavenly Birthday St.Josaphat.

  4. Dogmatic reasons are superfluous… It is being forgotten how venetian crusaders invaded constantinople and stole, and caused the brutal profanation of Hagia Sophia…

  5. ST JOSAPHAT OF PLOOTSK, PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AND MY SISTER AND ANSOR RID THE EVIL FROM MY HOME . ALSO RELEASE TO HEAVEN ALL THE YRNKIEVICZ AND WOYNIOSNKI FAMILIES FROM PURGOTORY . INCLUD MY MOM SARAH , MY DAD JOHN KRICK AND MY BROTHER RAYMOND.. HELP ALSO LARRY FAUST AND JOHN REED TOO ALSO DECEASED.

  6. O Saint Josaphat, wonderful Saint and heroic martyr for the union of our Church with the Vicar of Christ, the Pope of Rome. Thou are glorious on account of thy zeal in the propagation of the true Catholic faith among our people. Thou art wonderful because of thy heroic martyrdom for the unity of faith of our people with the Holy See of Rome, the true center of orthodox Catholicism.

    Thou art admirable on account of thy sublime virtues with which thou has adorned thy soul. We admire thy ardent love for Jesus and Mary and thy allegiance to the Vicar of Christ. Thou art a sublime example of all virtues for the people of whom thou wert born. Since thou art so powerful with God as thy miracles prove, I ask thee to obtain for me from Jesus and Mary a strong attachment to the Catholic faith and my beautiful Eastern Rite which I shall never betray nor abandon. Obtain also the grace of indefatigable zeal that I may labor for the reunion of my separated Eastern Brethren.

    O glorious martyr of our Catholic Church, remember the nation of which thou wert a son, look at our people and pray to God for future reunion of all Ukrainians under one fold and one shepherd. May the day come soon in which all thy Brethren will assemble before thy holy relics in a free and independent Ukraine to give thanks to God for the union of all Ukrainians with the Holy See. Amen.

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