Ecclesiam Dei admirabili

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The encyclical Ecclesiam Dei admirabili with the subtitle "About Saint Josaphat Kunzewitsch " († November 12, 1623 ) was written by Pope Pius XI. published on November 12, 1923.

Separation of the churches

At the beginning he describes the separation of the Eastern Churches from the Roman Catholic Church and underlines the papal claim to the one and holy Church . The highest episcopate was finally instituted by God and would continue to have claims to obedience in faith . In a brief description of the historical events, he describes the efforts of the Popes, who sought contact with the Metropolitan of Kiev in 1225 and later, but also in 1595 and the following years, and who constantly campaigned for the unification of the churches .

About Saint Josaphat

Holy Josaphat

A great fighter for the unity of the East Slavic Churches was Saint Josaphat Kunzewitsch , Archbishop of Polock , he campaigned for the East Slavic rite and it was difficult to find a comparable person who had shed his blood for the unity of the Holy Church. On the occasion of the 3rd century of his martyrdom , this name of the heroic martyr should be remembered. This is followed by an outline of his life and work for the Catholic Church, where he names witnesses who accompanied the life of Jehoshaphat. Pius XI. describes the saint as a neutral preacher who did not interfere in politics and who spread the truth of the faith solely through his sermons and writings. In addition, the archbishop wrote many instructional letters based on the catechism . Among other things, he kept to the teachings of Saint Peter Canisius . (See encyclical " Militantis ecclesiae " (1897) by Leo XIII.)

martyrdom

Saint Josaphat was already convinced during his lifetime that he would die a martyr's death, and he regarded his death as an extraordinary gift from God. On November 12th, 1623 he was finally surrounded by his enemies and barbarically murdered and with his last breath he asked God the Lord for forgiveness for the murderers. His martyrdom encouraged other bishops to emulate him, and another result was the return of many believers to the bosom of the Holy Church.

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