Deacon Nebojsa Varagic was born on August 10, 1995, in Ilidža, near Sarajevo, to his father Zoran and mother Jela. Upon arriving in the United States in 1997, Nebojsa and his family were challenged with a new beginning. With the love and support of the local parishes in Akron, Ohio, and the many parishioners, Nebojsa and his family moved to Barberton, Ohio
Upon completing his high school studies in 2013, Nebojsa enrolled at the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology in Libertyville, Illinois. During his second, third, and fourth year of studies, Nebojsa assisted as a chanter and taught as a religious education teacher in the Sunday School at the Holy Resurrection Church in Chicago.
After receiving his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 2017, Nebojsa enrolled at St. Vladimir’s Seminary with the blessings of His Grace, the Right Reverend Irinej, Bishop of Eastern America, pursuing the Master of Arts program in the fall of 2018. During the two-year Master of Arts program, Nebojsa completed an Honors thesis titled “St. Basil’s Ascetic Expectations: Monastics, Marriage, and the Episcopal Office” under the supervision and guidance of Reverend Dr. Anthony G. Roeber.
Upon graduation, with the blessings of his Grace Bishop Irinej, Nebojsa took up the role of Social Media Technical Editor of the Diocese of Eastern America. While residing in New Rochelle, New York, Nebojsa was blessed to be able to travel and visit many parishes of our God-protected Diocese of Eastern America while assisting His Grace during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgies.
With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Irinej, he married Jovana on June 3, 2023. In August of the same year, he was ordained to the rank of deacon on the Feast Day of the Dormition of the Theotokos, during the celebration in McKeesport, PA of the Patronal Feast of the Federation of Circle of Serbian Sisters, and the 120th Anniversary of the Founding of the Circle of Serbian Sisters.
On Sunday, September 10, 2023, on the final day of the Serbian National Federation 24th Quadrennial Convention, at the parish of St. George in Midland, PA, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America will celebrate the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, beginning at 9:30 a.m. During the Divine Liturgy, Deacon Nebojsa will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
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