Jević was born in Vođenica near Bosanski Petrovac to father Nikola and mother Rosa née Radošević.

While still in elementary school, Jević expressed interest to become a priest, which his family opposed, which resulted in a one-year pause in his education.

Eventually, in 1968 he enrolled at the five-year seminary at the Krka monastery in Kistanje in Croatia, from where he graduated in 1973, also with excellent grades.

While at the fourth year of the seminary, Jević took monastic vows in front of Bishop Stefan Boca of Dalmatia on 20 September 1971, and took the name Hrizostom.

[1] The Holy Synod appointed him the bishop of the newly created Eparchy of Bihać and Petrovac on 23 May 1991 and was installed on 4 August 1991 in the Church of Saint Sava in Drvar.