Fr Branislav was born into a clergy family. His parents Fr Vlatko and Jadranka are blessed with two sons, both men of the cloth, one former and (now) one current priest at the Saint Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church in Lackawanna, NY.

 

Fr Branislav completed his elementary education in the year 2000, and then enrolled at the St. Arsenius high-school seminary in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia,  where he graduated with honors in 2004. In 2005, he was admitted to the St. Sava School of Theology in Libertyville, IL, where he graduated in 2009. The same year, he was granted a full scholarship to attend Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY,  where he graduated with a Master of Arts degree in 2011. 

 

After graduation, Fr Branislav moved to Western PA, where he held the position of Financial Secretary for the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It was there that Fr. Branislav met his wife Dragana, who was a pharmacy student at the time at Duquesne University. 

 

In 2013, Fr. Branislav and Popadija Dragana were married at the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Hermitage, PA. Shortly after,  Fr Branislav was ordained a deacon by His Grace Bishop MITROPHAN, and six months later he was ordained into the Holy Priesthood. 

 

Fr Branislav’s first parish was St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Midland, PA.  After two years, he was transferred to the Saint Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, PA,  where he served for seven years. 

 

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop IRINEJ, Fr. Branislav has been appointed as the parish priest of the Saint Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church in Lackawanna, NY, starting August 1st 2024. 

 

Fr. Branislav and Popadija Dragana are blessed with four wonderful children, Mila (8) Vukan (6) and Bogdan (4) and a newborn baby girl Jana! 

 

Fr Branislav enjoys spending time with family, kumovi and friends and he is looking forward to meeting his new parishioners and serving the St Stephen community in the years to come!