Father James was born and raised in Oakland, California. He was brought up in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Ascension, where he served in various leadership roles across many of the parish ministries.

After working for many years in the film, television, and entertainment lighting industry, Father James finally listened to the call to serve the Church. In 2014 he left his career and entered Hellenic College as a Seminarian. Over the next six years he would study for and complete his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, graduating from Holy Cross School of Theology with an MDiv. in 2020.

While attending Seminary, Father James met his future wife and Presvytera Vasso, and they were married in 2018.

In October of 2020, Father James was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at Oakland’s Ascension Cathedral by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and assigned to serve as assistant priest at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle, Washington. Father and Presvytera served the people there for three wonderful years.

Beginning on January 1, 2024, Father James was assigned as Proistamenos of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose, California, where he and Presvytera Vasso continue to serve with joy.

Fr. Nebojsa Pantic serves Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church as our Assistant Priest since 2018. Before joining our church, he served the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension in Oakland, CA as an assistant priest and Sts Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Vallejo, CA as Proistamenos. 

Fr. Nebojsa holds BA (Religious Studies) and MDIV degrees in Theology as well as a minor in Psychology from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He also holds an MBA degree from California State University - Sacramento.

Fr. Nebojsa was born in Serbia (Novi Sad) and grew up in northern Illinois (Gurnee), while also spending time studying abroad in Austria and Greece.  He met his wife Presvytera Stephanie while attending Hellenic College, and was ordained to priesthood at the Ascension Cathedral (Oakland) in 2010.  He and Presvytera Stephanie have two children, Paraskevi (10) and Elias (6).