He was born in Pljevlja on [[August 29]]/[[September 11]], 1880, as Petar into the family of Đorđe and Krsmana Rosić (Ђорђе и Крсмана Росић). He finished primary school in Pljevlja in 1892, and [[seminary]] in Prizren in 1899. Also in 1899, he became a stipendist of the Russian Synod. He continued his studies at St. Petersburg Theological Academy and earned the title of ''"Candidate of Theology"'' in 1905. He was [[tonsure]]d in St. Petersburg on [[April 30]], 1905, by his [[Rector]] Bishop Sergije and was given the name Varnava. He was [[ordination|ordain]]ed [[deacon]] on [[May 6]], and [[presbyter]] on [[June 6]] of the same year. Fr. Varnava returned to Contantinople and was appointed Chaplain [[chaplain]] in the Serbian Embassy and also was the principal of the Serbian School there.