Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych of Polotsk
1580-1623
Feast Day: November 12 (New), November 14 (Trad)
Patronage: Ukraine
Saint Josaphat, born in Ukraine, became a monk for the Ukrainian Order of St. Basil and 5 years later a priest for the Byzantine Church. He worked for unity and peace between the Eastern Orthodox and Latin Roman Churches, which were divided since 1054. Josaphat was made the first Bishop of Vitebsky in 1617 during an intense level of unrest between the two groups. Being the holy man that he was, he started building and reforming his diocese. In 1623, a mob of Orthodox citizens was incensed to riot and murdered Bishop Josaphat. He was canonized as the first Eastern Church saint in 1867.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)
