Saint Josaphat

<p>John Kuncewicz was born in present-day Ukraine about 1580. Upon entering the Order of St Basil he chose the name 'Josaphat.' He was ordained a priest of the Byzantine rite in 1609 and soon gained renown for his preaching. In 1617, named Archbishop of Polotsk, Russia, he worked for the renewal of the diocese and for the union of the Ukrainian Church with Rome. Many opposed Josaphat, claiming that he was trying to impose Roman-style Catholicism on the Ukrainian Church. He was slain by opponents in 1623 in Vitebsk. In 1867 Josaphat became the first Eastern saint to be formally canonized.©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong&gt;. Reprinted with permission.</p>