St. Josaphat

St. Josaphat was born in 1580 at Volodymyr, Lithuania. A merchant’s apprentice, he was offered partnership in the business and a chance to marry the partner’s daughter. However, Josaphat declined both offers because he was called to religious life. He joined the Ukrainian Order of St. Basil (Basilians) in 1604, at which time he took the name Josaphat. The monk was ordained a Byzantine rite priest in 1609. A preacher and later bishop, he tried to bring fallen away Christians back to the church and worked for unity in the church. In 1623, Josaphat was killed by a mob of people who invaded his residence. Canonized in 1876, Josphat was the first Eastern saint canonized by Rome.