From the Biography of Fr. Vladimir Vranic
Prepared for Ordination of Fr. Deacon Vladimir Vranic to the Holy Priesthood, Sunday, September 17, 2006:
 As the son of an Orthodox Christian priest, from his earliest days Fr. Deacon Vladimir was immersed in church life. As he says himself, "I cannot envision myself in any other vocation." Born to Proto Perisa and Protinica Jelena Vranic in Sarajevo, where Proto Perisa was serving at the time, he spent his formative years in Belgrade, where the family returned after his father was re-assigned to the Patriarchate. In Belgrade, Fr. Deacon Vladimir met a number of spiritual people who proved to be influential in his development. Among these people was the now-deceased Protos (Head Monk) Mitrofan of the Serbian Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. Fr. Mitrofan visited Belgrade on one occasion, seeking a student from Serbia to send to Mount Athos. It happened at that time that Fr. Deacon Vladimir had finished at the top of his class in the first year of the Seminary of Saint Sava (High School). Upon learning of this achievement, Protos Mitrofan approached Prota Perisa to see if Fr. Deacon Vladimir would be interested in studying on Mount Athos. Thus, Fr. Deacon Vladimir completed his seminary (high school) studies on Mount Athos in Karyes. Not only did he learn Greek there, but also being exposed to the monks, the monasteries and the long services (including all-night vigils), his spiritual experience was immeasurably deepened. The privilege of living on Mount Athos (after Jerusalem, the wealthiest treasury of our Orthodox Christian Faith), enabled Fr. Deacon Vladimir to establish a firm foundation in his spiritual life. As Fr. Deacon explains: "I was told there were many living saints among the monks residing on Mount Athos. With that in my mind, as I took my first step on such a Holy place, I was brought across a bridge beyond words. The Holy place guided me in sewing the seeds of faith because every further contact I have had since, with either monasteries, or religious services, or church life in general, was seen through the lens of the Holy Mount Athos, and has blossomed in abundance." After graduating from the Theological Seminary on Mount Athos in May, 1997, Protos Mitrofan (at that time Fr. Deacon's spiritual advisor) discussed the next step Fr. Deacon would take regarding his further service in the Church. Protos Mitrofan said to Fr. Deacon Vladimir: "You have been in the most beautiful place that the Orthodox world can offer, but now I will send you to the most worldly place," referring to the U.S. In the interim, thanks to the knowledge of Greek he acquired on Mount Athos, Fr. Deacon lectured at the Serbian National University of Bozidar Adzija in Belgrade, where he had his first experience in pedagogy (teaching). Fr. Deacon then went to the U.S. where he spent four years (1998-2002) at St Sava School of Theology in Libertyville. During his studies in the US, he was assigned to local parishes where he taught religious studies, and helped the priests with their parochial obligations. After his graduation from St. Sava Theological School, Fr. Deacon Vladimir returned to Belgrade where he spent the next two years teaching religious studies in two High Schools; he also assisted parish priests with their parochial obligations, and actively participated in the life of the Russian Orthodox Stavropigial Church in Belgrade. It was at the Russian Church that Fr. Deacon Vladimir encountered the Russian rite and tradition in more depth. Also, Fr. Deacon Vladimir was a very active choir and solo singer while he was in Belgrade. He sang with many choirs, including the choir of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences directed by Prof. Dimitrije Stefanovic "one of the most spiritual conductors alive today who emphasizes the importance of prayer (and understanding-thus conveying the meaning of the text) in singing-to fully spread the Word," as Fr. Deacon Vladimir explains. After two years at the Russian Church in Belgrade, Fr. Vitaly Tarasiev (Fr. Deacon's Spiritual Father in Belgrade) decided to send him St. Vladimir's Seminary in New York for further studies. During his time at St. Vladimir's, Fr. Deacon immersed himself in theological and biblical studies, as well as the English language. While still a student at St. Vladimir's, he was ordained into the first rank of the priesthood-the Holy Diaconate-by His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher, at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville on Bright Monday, April 24, 2006. He graduated from St. Vladimir's on May 21, 2006. Thereafter, HE Met. CHRISTOPHER appointed him as the Parish Deacon of St. Basil of Ostrog SOC in Lake Forest, effective July 1, 2006 and informed the Parish that Fr. Deacon will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. Basil SOC on September 17, 2006. Upon his Ordination, Fr. Vladimir will become the Parish Priest, with Fr. Milan Savich continuing to be attached to the parish in an emeritus role. Until a parish home can be built on the property in Lake Forest, Fr. Vladimir and his wife Katarina will reside in a condominium in Libertyville. "My wife and I coming to Lake Forest and serving God on a new continent with new people is another example of how faith truly connects us by sending us in different directions throughout the world," says Fr. Deacon Vladimir.
We congratulate Fr. Vladimir on his Ordination to the Priesthood: AXIOS! DOSTOJIN! WORTHY!
We welcome Fr. Vladimir and Popadija Katarina to the St. Basil SOC family: DOBRO NAM DOSLI!
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From Our Pastor Emeritus
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
 In 1997, as the Bishop's Dean for Chicagoland, I had the honor of serving Vesper services in the Church of the Redeemer in Lake Forrest-Mettawa, which your parish was using to hold it's first worship services. Today, as your parish priest, I rejoice that, by Divine Providence, that same church has been dedicated to St. Basil of Ostrog and has become your parish church. We are all in dire need of a church of God and a house of prayer, for if a church of God is a true house of prayer, then it becomes our living connection with heaven. And that is solely what is necessary, because Christ said: "Without me you can do nothing." Before us stand the rare opportunity and chance, both for ourselves and our children, to attain a real house of prayer, but this will require our love and sacrifice, which should not be a problem since we as a people have a history of building churches and leaving legacies to coming generations. Our efforts and sacrifices to attain this beautiful church and school complex will be justified only if it becomes an actual house of God; a place of prayer; a place for service to God and to come in contact with God; a place where you may analyze our souls and examine our shortcomings; a place to confess our sins and partake in Holy Mysteries of Confession and Communion; a place where we may find solace when we are face with adversity, hope when we despair, strength when we are weak and powerless, light when we are in darkness; a place where we can learn how to attain the most exhalted idea of life - the Salvation of our Souls. I am confident that you will do all that is within your capabilities not only to attain our financial goals but to see that this church and parish achieve spiritual perfection and that St. Basil Parish will truly be a "living Church of Christ".
Your intercessor before the Lord
Protojerej-Stavrofor Milan Savich
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