[Decebal]

În prealabil postat de catalin2

Nu stiu nimic de Iosafat, ...

Celor de mai sus adăugăm şi un citat în limba engleză

The Uniat Bishop Kuntsevich of Polotsk, who distinguished himself by particular cruelty and sadism, was already canonized as a Catholic saint (29 June 1867 by Pope Plus IX). In a ceremony which amounted to a mockery of Orthodoxy, his decayed relics (a small tuft of hair and vestments), were translated to Rome during the reign of Pope Paul VI (25 November 1963) and interred in St. Peter's Basilica under the altar of St. Basil the Great, next to the relics of the Great Universal Hierarchs and Teachers -- John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian.

Following the announcement of the Brest Union Orthodox people of SW Russia experienced difficult times under fanatical Papist rulers. Catholics and Uniats were now free to persecute Orthodoxy with impunity, to plunder churches and profit from the peremptory confiscation of property. One of the most inveterate among them was Iosafat Kuntsevich, the Bishop of Polotsk, «the tireless persecutor of humiliated "schismatics" deprived of their civil rights, who forever remained a part of the history of Ukraine».

Even Catholics urged this fanatic, nicknamed "soul-snatcher" by the people, to come to his senses. The famous letter of Chancellor Lev Sapega, the head of Great Principality of Lithuania, written on behalf of the Polish King, better than anything else characterizes the fierce Uniat Kuntsevich and the unfortunate state of Orthodox victims of the Brest Union. Lev Sapega wrote:

«I admit, that I too was concerned about the cause of Union and that it would be imprudent to abandon it; but it had never occurred to me that your Eminence would implement it using such violent measures... You say that you are "free to drown the infidels (i.e. those who have not accepted the Unia - L.P.), to chop their heads off"; etc. Not so! The Lord's commandment expresses a strict prohibition to all, which concerns you also. When you violated human conscience, closed churches so that people would perish like infidels without divine service, without Christian rites and sacraments; when you abused King's favors and privileges -- you managed without us; but when there is a need to suppress seditions caused by your excesses you want us to cover up for you... As to the dangers that threaten your life, one may say that everyone is the cause of one's own misfortune. Stop making trouble, do not subject us to the general hatred of the people and yourself to obvious danger and general criticism... Everywhere one hears people grumbling that you do not have any worthy priests, but only blind ones... Your ignorant priests are the bane of the people... But tell me, your Eminence, whom did you win over, whom did you attract with your severity... It will turn out that in Polotsk itself you have lost even those who until now were obedient to you. You have turned sheep into goats, you plunged the state into danger, and maybe all of us Catholics -- into ruin... It has been rumored that they (the Orthodox) would rather be under the infidel Turks than endure such violence... you yourself are the cause of their rebellion. Instead of joy, your notorious Union brought us only troubles and discords and has become so loathsome that we would rather be without it!».

"Persecution of the Orthodox (raised by Kuntsevich) repeated the horrors of the first centuries of Christianity". One of them took place on May 22 of 1620 in the Trinity Monastery near Polotsk where local inhabitants gathered to express their indignation at the ferocious persecution of the Orthodox which was instigated by Bishop Kuntsevich of Polotsk. These people suffered a terrible fate: an armed crowd of Uniats surrounded the monastery and set it on fire. As the fire was raging and destroying the monastery and burning alive everyone within its walls, Iosafat Kuntsevich was performing on a nearby hill a thanksgiving service accompanied by the cries of the victims of fire ...

sursa: Ludmila Perepiolkina