Josaphata Hordashevska

Josaphata Hordashevska (born Michaelina Hordashevska 1869, Lwów - 1919) - Ukrainian Greek-Catholic nun, was the first member of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. In 1869, Michaelina Hordashevska was born in Lwów. At the age of 18, she decided to consecrate her life to God in a contemplative monastery of the Order of St Basil the Great, then the only Eastern-rite woman's congregation. Then the Basilians decided to establish a woman's congregation that focused on the active life, Michaelina was elected to be the first leader. When she agreed, she was sent to the Felician sisters to give her the experience of active paramonastic life. Michaelina took the name "Josaphata", in honour of the Ukrainian martyr St Josaphat Kuntsevych. She was the first superior of the young sisters there, training them in the spirit and charisma of the Sisters Servants: "serve your people where the need is greatest". At the age of 49, she died amidst terrible suffering from bone cancer. Her dead body was found to be incorrupt and was taken to Rome. She is buried in the generalate of the Sisters Servants in Rome. The process of her beatification started in Rome in 1983 and on June 27, 2001 she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Lwów. Numerous miracles are ascribed due to her intercession after her death.

ee also

*Eastern Christianity
*Eastern Catholic Churches
*Byzantine Rite
*Byzantine Discalced Carmelites

External links

* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintjea.htm Patron Saints Index: Bl. Josaphata Michaelina Hordashevska]
* [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5750 Bl. Josaphata Michaelina Hordashevska 1869-1919]
* [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/documents/ns_lit_doc_20010627_hordashevska_en.html Vatican site: Josaphata Hordashevska (1869-1919)]