Jozafat Bulhak Metropolitan of the Greek Uniate Churches in the Russian Empire Date of Birth: 20.04.1758 Country: Dive

1. Early Life and Education
2. Ecclesiastical Career
3. Bishop of Brest and Vilnius
4. Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus
5. Religious Tension and the Polish Uprising
6. Final Years

Early Life and Education

Iosif Bulgak was born into a noble Catholic family in the Brest Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. After the region's occupation by the Russian Empire, his family was recorded as "Polish" landowners in the Slonim district of the Grodno Governorate. Bulgak studied at the Basilian school of the Holy Assumption Monastery in Zhirovichy from 1763 to 1774. In 1774, he joined the Basilian monastic order and received the monastic name Josaphat. He taught at monastery schools in Berezvech (now Hlubokaye) and Zhirovichy.

Ecclesiastical Career

In 1782-1785, Bulgak studied at the Roman college "de Propaganda Fidei," where he earned doctorates in theology and canon law. In 1785, he was ordained a presbyter. In 1786, he became Bishop of Pinsk. In 1789, he was coadjutor of the Pinsk-Turov diocese and in 1790-1799, Bishop of Turov.

Bishop of Brest and Vilnius

In 1798, Bulgak was appointed Bishop of the Brest diocese with his seat in Novogrudok and from 1810 in Zhirovichy. In 1804, he was proposed as a member of the Roman Catholic College in Saint Petersburg. In 1814, he became administrator of the diocese of Vilnius.

Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus

In 1817, Bulgak was nominated by Russian authorities as the "Uniate Metropolitan for the Russian Empire," though without official approval from the Holy See. Nonetheless, the Holy See appointed him as "Apostolic Delegate." He became chairman of the second department of the Roman Catholic Spiritual College and, from 1822, also Bishop of Vilnius and Archbishop of the Kyiv-Halych Archdiocese.

Religious Tension and the Polish Uprising

In 1828, Bulgak's role diminished due to internal political shifts and the Russian government's reforms on the governance of the Uniate Church. He opposed the Polish Uprising of 1830-1831, which further eroded his standing among Catholics.

Final Years

In 1833, Bulgak became Archbishop of Polotsk. He died in Saint Petersburg in 1838 and was buried in the Sergievskaya Primorskaya Pustyn under the Trinity Cathedral. Despite pressures from Russian authorities, he remained a stalwart defender of the Brest Union until his death.