«Vida y martirio del B. San Josafat Kuncevicz» (1684) como fuente histórica sobre Ucrania

The paper focuses on close reading of Vida y martirio del B. San Josafat Kuncevicz, written in Latin by Jacob Susza (1665), translated into Spanish and commented in «Prologue by the translator» by Miguel Pérez, and published in Madrid in 1684.In spite of the fact that the controversial personality of Josafat Kuncewicz has been thoroughly studied, the Spanish version of his Life and Martyrdom remains almost unknown to researchers.The book is analyzed from two perspectives.Firstly, it is considered within the historical and cultural context taking into consideration practices of beatification and canonization implemented by the Vatican and by the Spanish Catholic Church in the 17 th century.As a result, the interpretation approach towards life and martyrdom of St. Josafat Kuncewicz suggested by Miguel Pérez in «Prologue» follows conventions of the Spanish baroque church rhetoric that widely uses sophisticate conceits and visual allegories.Secondly, both the translation of Susza's text, and Miguel Pérez's «Prologue» are interpreted as historical documents containing information about the 17 th century Ukraine as part of Europe populated by Enemy -the schismatic tribes which are to be converted into the Catholic faith.