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Jan Kuncewicz was born to a Ruthenian noble family in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the late sixteenth century. He was brought up in the schismatic Ruthenian Church. His parents sent him away to be a merchant’s apprentice in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Jan befriended a former Calvinist who had become an Eastern Catholic. Inspired by his arguments for unity with Rome, Jan soon joined the Order of St. Basil, taking the name Josaphat and eventually bringing in his friend. With the help of the Jesuits, Josaphat was ordained a priest. Several years later he reluctantly accepted consecration as bishop, and within a year became archbishop of Polotsk. His success in bringing both schismatics and Protestants back to union with Rome led to his opponents calling him “the Soul-Snatcher”, a title he accepted with good humor. The zealous and deeply ascetic Josephat expected eventual martyrdom at the hands of his enemies, and was proven correct in the year of Our Lord 1623, when a band of angry schismatics shot, beat, and chopped the holy archbishop to death. After many miracles, including his body’s incorruptibility, Josephat became the first Eastern Catholic to be officially canonized by Rome. He is also celebrated on November 12th.
THE festival of St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr.
At Heraclea, in Thrace, the birthday [into heaven] of the holy martyrs Clementinus, Theodotus and Philomenus.
At Alexandria, St. Serapion, martyr, whom the persecutors, under the emperor Decius, subjected to torments so cruel that all his limbs were disjointed. He became a martyr of Christ by being hurled down from the upper part of his house.
At Troyes, in France, St. Venerandus, martyr, under the emperor Aurelian.
Also, in France, the holy virgin Veneranda, who received the crown of martyrdom under the emperor Antoninus and the governor Asclepiades.
At Gangres, in Paphlagonia, St. Hypatius, bishop, who on his way home from the great council of Nice, was attacked with stones by the Novatian heretics, and died a martyr.
At Algiers, in Africa, blessed Serapion, of the Order of Our Blessed Lady of Ransom. For the redemption of the faithful in captivity and the preaching of the Christian faith, he was the first of his Order to deserve the palm of martyrdom by being crucified and cut to pieces.
At Emesa, the passion of many holy women, who were barbarously tortured and massacred under Mady, a savage Arabian chief.
At Bologna, St. Jucundus, bishop and confessor.
In Ireland, St. Lawrence, bishop of Dublin.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.