He was born in 1894, on the Feast of the Annunciation. He died on the Feast of the Annunciation, two days ago, a little more than an hour after the hour of his birth. This holy man who lies before us in death spent eighty-five years on earth. He was one of the numerous, true witnesses to the Annunciation. Father Justin was a descendant of a clerical family, the last offspring of a clerical root which has provided us with priests through the generations.
Holy fruits sprout from a holy root.
He was born in Vranje, at the crossroads of nations and spiritual influences. From his childhood he was imbued with reverence and piety, thanks to his mother, Anastasija, and his father, Spiridon. By the recollection of his schoolmates, he also was deeply committed to religion and piety from his early childhood. That this really was so, is testified by the fact of his acceptance into the holy monastic ranks during the most difficult days of Serbian history. From there, Metropolitan Dimitrije of Serbia sent him with a group of gifted young men to study in Russia.