There was abundant joy in this year’s celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Pittsburgh, PA, for the faithful of the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.

The Nativity Vigil of Christmas Eve – Badjne Vece was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, concelebrated by Deacon Darko Tripkovic and Protodeacon David Manko together with many altar servers, followed by the blessing and burning of the Yule Tree – Badnjak and traditional Lenten meal hosted by the Parent’s Group mothers. The collaborative efforts of all parish organizations in preparation for the weekend, as well as the attendance of so many, contributed to a most festive atmosphere with eager anticipation for Christmas morning.

On Sunday, January 7^th, 2024, His Grace celebrated the Festal Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, jubilant with our beloved choir responding with the hymns of the Nativity, church school students chanting the antiphons, and following the reading of the Gospel, the proclamation of a most special announcement! His Grace Bishop Irinej called forth Presbyter Nebojsa Varagic to the ambo, and while holding the Holy Gospel raised to the Glory of the Newborn King, inducted Fr. Nebojsa as parish priest of our Holy Cathedral and Spiritual Father of our parish!  All who were present to witness this poignant moment and to hear the inspiring words spoken by His Grace were delighted for this new beginning. As the choir began singing Many Years – Mnogaja ljeta, the multitude of faithful overwhelmed with joy, spontaneously began applauding and rose to offer a standing ovation for their new parish priest!

During an already joyous Feast Day, our congregation was most bountifully blessed to have the Nativity of our Lord celebrated with such heartfelt radiance and wonder through the prayers and supplications of our Diocesan Bishop together with his concelebrants and the induction of our new priest.

The service concluded with Fr. Nebojsa and Deacon Darko reading the Nativity Encyclical of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

May the blessings of our Lord and Savior continue to bless Fr. Nebojsa and Popadija Jovana as they embark on serving Him in the pastoral care of the Holy Trinity Church-School Congregation.

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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 Orthodox Theological 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 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 in McKeesport, PA.

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 celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. During the Divine Liturgy, Deacon Nebojsa was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.