Deepertruth: Stand In The Gap With Us And Holy Priest-Martyr Josaphat

Stand In The Gap With Us And Holy Priest-Martyr Josaphat 11/12/2023

Dr. Gregory and I while in Arizona had the opportunity to go to Mass to a Byzintine Rite Church, very beautiful and Traditional.

From his early years, his parents and educators encouraged his natural inclination for the faith. St. Josephat studied church slavonic, and apprenticed under a merchant.

During this time he encountered both Latin rite and Eastern rite Catholics.

At the age of ~24, he entered an Orthodox monastery, where he took on the name Josaphat. In the coming years he was raised to the level of Bishop. St. Josaphat worked to bring his parishes in union with Rome.

However, there were many priests and laymen under his jurisdiction that were upset by these advancements towards unity. Particularly when it came to dividing the churches and land between the uniate churches and those remaining Orthodox.

There is a recorded tradition that St. Jospahat knew he would be killed for the sake of the unity of Rome. He spoke to the faithful, saying he was aware that the people wanted to kill him, and set ambushes for him. Then he reminded the faithful that he was their shepherd, and that he would gladly lay down his life for them, his sheep.