Fr Vlad was born in Russia. He was ordained priest in the underground network in 1981. After the secret police raided his community and put him to prison he was invited by the Bishop of Stockholm to work in Sweden in 1988. He continued his education at Heythrop College in London, where he was awarded the University of London degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1999. The results of his research were published as a book in New York in 2006.

For many years Fr Vlad was a university chaplain and lecturer. Royal Holloway, University of London, admitted him to Honorary Fellowship in 2014.

Fr Vlad belongs to Eastern Catholic Church of Bysantine Rite which allows the priestly ordination of married men. Fr Vlad married his wife Tamara in 1970.