Rafajil Korsak
Encyclopedia
Rafajil Nikolai Korsak (c. 1599—1640) was the Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and Russia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
from 1637 to his death in 1640.
Calvinist family. Primaries sources disagree on his birth year, which anyway can be fixed into a range from 1598 to 1601. He studied by the Jesuits in Nesvizh
and in Vilnius
, and later in Papal Missionary College in Braniewo
and by the Jesuits in Praha. By the Jesuits he converted to the Latin Church
and later, supported by Metropolitan Josyf Veliamyn Rutsky, he joined the Greek-Catholic Church. In 1620 he entered in the Order of Saint Basil the Great
taking the religious name of Rafajil (Rafael) and he passed his year of novitiate
in the monastery of Byten. He studied in the Greek College in Rome from December 1621 to November 1624, when he was requested to return in his country to serve as a bishop.
In 1625 Korsak became archimandrite
of the monastery of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius (the main monastery of the Order), in 1626 Proto-Archimandrite (i.e. Superior general
) of the whole order (a office he kept till 1636) and in September 1626 he was consecrated a bishop
with the title of Galicia. Metropolitan Rutsky chose him as coadjutor bishop
with right of succession, and so he was confirmed by Rome
on 9 March 1631 notwithstanding the initial concern of the King for his young age. In 1632 he became Eparch (bishop) of Pinsk
.
In 1632 the situation of the Greek-Catholic Church had a downturn because of the death of the King Sigismund III
who had supported the Church since the Union of Brest
. The new king, Władysław IV
, to be elected signed the "Pacta Conventa" which were favorable to the Orthodox faction, supported by the Cossaks, and prejudicial to the Greek-Catholic Church. Korsak was sent to Rome to find support for the position of his Church, as he succeeded to do. He remained in Rome from 1633 to 1635.
Metropolitan Rutsky died on 5 February 1637 and Korsak became the new Metropolitan of Kiev and head of the Greek-Catholic Church. As his predecessor, he went on in negotiations with the Orthodox Metropolitan of Kiev, Peter Mogila about the way to unify the Ukrainian Church, but in 1639 he had to return to Rome for the third time, requested to visit the pope (visit ad Limina). He arrived in Rome in September 1639, and he passed the winter there. In 1640 he fell ill, and he died in Rome on 28 August 1640. He was buried in the Greek Rite
church of Santi Sergio e Bacco
.
He wrote a biography of Metropolitan Rutsky, and he translated in Latin
the works of Meletius Smotrytsky
.
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
from 1637 to his death in 1640.
Life
Nikolai Korsak was born near Navahrudak from a nobleNobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
Calvinist family. Primaries sources disagree on his birth year, which anyway can be fixed into a range from 1598 to 1601. He studied by the Jesuits in Nesvizh
Nesvizh
Nesvizh is a city in Belarus. It is the administrative center of the Nesvizh District of Minsk Province and location of the Nesvizh Castle World Heritage Site. Its 2009 population is 14,300 .-History:...
and in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, and later in Papal Missionary College in Braniewo
Braniewo
Braniewo is a town in northeastern Poland, in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, with a population of 18,068 . It is the capital of Braniewo County...
and by the Jesuits in Praha. By the Jesuits he converted to the Latin Church
Latin Church
The Latin Church is the largest particular church within the Catholic Church. It is a particular church not on the level of the local particular churches known as dioceses or eparchies, but on the level of autonomous ritual churches, of which there are 23, the remaining 22 of which are Eastern...
and later, supported by Metropolitan Josyf Veliamyn Rutsky, he joined the Greek-Catholic Church. In 1620 he entered in the Order of Saint Basil the Great
Order of Saint Basil the Great
The Order of St. Basil the Great also known as the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat is an monastic religious order of the Greek Catholic Churches that is present in many countries and that has its Mother House in Rome. The order received approbation on August 20, 1631...
taking the religious name of Rafajil (Rafael) and he passed his year of novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in the monastery of Byten. He studied in the Greek College in Rome from December 1621 to November 1624, when he was requested to return in his country to serve as a bishop.
In 1625 Korsak became archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
of the monastery of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius (the main monastery of the Order), in 1626 Proto-Archimandrite (i.e. Superior general
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
) of the whole order (a office he kept till 1636) and in September 1626 he was consecrated a bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
with the title of Galicia. Metropolitan Rutsky chose him as coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
with right of succession, and so he was confirmed by Rome
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on 9 March 1631 notwithstanding the initial concern of the King for his young age. In 1632 he became Eparch (bishop) of Pinsk
Pinsk
Pinsk , a town in Belarus, in the Polesia region, traversed by the river Pripyat, at the confluence of the Strumen and Pina rivers. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk. It is a fertile agricultural center. It lies south-west of Minsk. The population is about 130,000...
.
In 1632 the situation of the Greek-Catholic Church had a downturn because of the death of the King Sigismund III
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
who had supported the Church since the Union of Brest
Union of Brest
Union of Brest or Union of Brześć refers to the 1595-1596 decision of the Church of Rus', the "Metropolia of Kiev-Halych and all Rus'", to break relations with the Patriarch of Constantinople and place themselves under the Pope of Rome. At the time, this church included most Ukrainians and...
. The new king, Władysław IV
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
, to be elected signed the "Pacta Conventa" which were favorable to the Orthodox faction, supported by the Cossaks, and prejudicial to the Greek-Catholic Church. Korsak was sent to Rome to find support for the position of his Church, as he succeeded to do. He remained in Rome from 1633 to 1635.
Metropolitan Rutsky died on 5 February 1637 and Korsak became the new Metropolitan of Kiev and head of the Greek-Catholic Church. As his predecessor, he went on in negotiations with the Orthodox Metropolitan of Kiev, Peter Mogila about the way to unify the Ukrainian Church, but in 1639 he had to return to Rome for the third time, requested to visit the pope (visit ad Limina). He arrived in Rome in September 1639, and he passed the winter there. In 1640 he fell ill, and he died in Rome on 28 August 1640. He was buried in the Greek Rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
church of Santi Sergio e Bacco
Santi Sergio e Bacco
Santi Sergio e Bacco is a Catholic church of the Byzantine Rite in the rione of Monti in Rome, Italy, located in Piazza Madonna dei Monti. Saints Sergius and Bacchus are said to have been early fourth century Roman military officers and Christian martyrs buried in Syria...
.
He wrote a biography of Metropolitan Rutsky, and he translated in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
the works of Meletius Smotrytsky
Meletius Smotrytsky
Meletius Smotrytsky , né Maksym Herasymovytch was a Ruthenian linguist from Galicia, author and religious activist. Son of the famous Ukrainian religious and political activist Herasym Smotrytsky. He was educated in Ostroh and Vilnius, as well as Leipzig, Wittenberg and Nuremberg...
.