Perhaps Saint Josaphat is one of the lesser-known saints of the Church, yet his life tells a powerful story of faith, unity, and courage. Born around 1580 in what is now Ukraine, Josaphat Kuncevyc grew up in a world divided between East and West, where Orthodox and Catholic Christians often stood in tension. Drawn deeply to God from an early age, he entered the monastic life and was later ordained a bishop. What made him remarkable was his tireless effort to heal the wounds of division, to bring unity between the Orthodox and the newly formed Greek Catholic Church. He became known as the “apostle of union,” working not through force or politics but through prayer, humility, and example.
There is a story that once, as a young monk, Josaphat would often kneel before an icon of Christ, whispering, “Lord, make me worthy to shed my blood for your Church.” Years later, his prayer was answered. In 1623, while defending the unity of the Church, he was attacked and killed by a mob… dying with words of forgiveness on his lips. His martyrdom, far from deepening the divide, became a seed of reconciliation. Today, Saint Josaphat stands as a radiant reminder that unity in the Church is not achieved by power or argument, but by love. He is the Patron Saint of Ukraine (we keep the people of Ukraine in our prayers today) and was canonised by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 29 1867.
In Józef Simmler’s Martyrdom of Saint Josaphat, the artist captures with striking realism the final, brutal moment of the saint’s life. Josaphat lies fallen to the ground, his body slumped yet dignified, as a gunman delivers the fatal shot. A violent mob surround him, men in both Eastern and Western dress, symbolising the divisions between the Orthodox and Catholic worlds that Josaphat sought so fervently to heal. Their faces are filled with rage and confusion, while the bishop remains calm, his expression almost prayerful in surrender. Beside him rests his Bible, a quiet witness to the faith for which he is dying. Note also the light in the top left corner… in the shape of a dove and including the dove of the Holy Spirit.
by Father Patrick van der Vorst
