 Josif was ordained a presbyter and later elevated once again in 1774 by the Metropolitan Vićentije Jovanović Vidak to archimandrite.On 31 July 1781, Metropolitan Mojsije Putnik consecrated him to the Bishop of Pakrac-Slavonian and the entire Generality of Varaždin.One of the first and most important jobs that the new Bishop of Pakrac had to do was suppress the union because it was at this time that it started a new and very lively action in the General Staff of Varaždin.