Bishop Irinej Called the Police on His Own People Instead of Coming to Cleveland to Talk

November 16, 2025.

The crisis in the Cathedral Church of St. Sava in Cleveland did not fall from the sky. It is the result of years of silence – Bishop Irinej Dobrijević and his parishioners simply do not talk. It started with a forbidden meeting, continued with a pile of unanswered letters.

And now? Instead of coming and talking with his people, Bishop Irinej calls the police on them.

One question hangs in the air: Could all this have been avoided with one normal conversation?

Forbidden February Meeting

February 23, 2025 – we requested an informational meeting about church management. The Bishop FORBADE it.

He did not offer a new date. He did not suggest another way. He did not even try to hear what is bothering us. Thus, he set the rule: your concerns do not interest me.

Pattern of Silence

This was not the only time. Here is what the documents show:

Letters – concerns have been sent since February 2024. No response.

Three certified appeals (August 19, September 19, October 5, 2025) – requested forwarding to the Synod. All three signed, none read.

Donor Aleks Mačeski – gave $25,000 for the Marča Monastery. Two years asking for a report. Not a word.

Father Dragoslav Kosić – three requests for leave. All three ignored.

After that – 48 hours' notice and Father Dragoslav was expelled, October 28, 2025.

Everything Could Have Been Different

If the meeting had been allowed – there would have been open discussion.

If the letters had been answered – misunderstandings would have been resolved.

If Mačeski had received the report – finances would be clear.

If the appeals had been forwarded – the canonical path would work.

If Father Dragoslav had received normal notice – the community would understand.

None of that happened.

Result?

November 2 and 9 – about 100 people stand in the rain and peacefully refuse the replacement priest.Where Was the Bishop?

In the two months before the crisis, he visited: St. Demetrius, Akron; Church of St. Sava, Wallings Road (3 km from the Cathedral Church); St. Archangel Michael; Marča Monastery; Lorain; Youngstown.

The Cathedral Church of St. Sava in Cleveland? Not on the map. Every time he goes to Marča, Akron, or Lorain – he passes by Cleveland. Multiple times. Not once did he stop by.Bishop Calls the Police Instead of Coming to Talk

And today, November 16, instead of coming to Cleveland and sitting down with his people, Bishop Irinej calls the police on them.

His people stand peacefully, in prayer, defending their church. And he sends the police.

That tells you everything you need to know about this bishop.

Vandalism in the Church: Removal of Cameras

As if that weren't enough, vandalism occurred in the church.

The former board president, the bishop's kuma Stanka Nikolić, and the former president's son-in-law entered the church and someone removed the video surveillance cameras.

Yes, you read that right. They entered the church and someone removed the security cameras. That is vandalism.

Why remove the cameras? What are they trying to hide? Who gave them authorization to destroy church property?

The People Pray Outside

While the bishop sends the police and his close people destroy church equipment, the people pray outside.

Not in the church where they should be.

Outside. In the cold.

And who is among that handful inside? Look who they are:

• Former board president - the one who, alone in Hermitage PA, wrote a fake letter of support for the bishop before the 2024 Assembly without community/board approval

• His wife

• His daughter Katarina - the one whose actions caused the majority of this year's troubles, whose lies were refuted by all present at the meeting on March 9 and who was rewarded with a return to the board despite her previously given resignation.

• Her husband, - the one who, with his father-in-law, possibly vandalized church property by removing cameras. Not the first time Ukrainians break in and destroy Orthodox churches

• Stanka Nikolić - the bishop's kuma, president of the sisters' circle and board member

• Zora L., - Macedonian - the one who asked why the Serbian flag was hung during the Serbian Fest in the Serbian church.

All these people are close to the bishop. All of them created this chaos together with the bishop.

And hundreds of faithful parishioners who built this church? Outside. In the cold. Praying.

This is what an Orthodox community looks like when the bishop chooses police over pastoral relationship.

Conclusion: lies are desirable and not only desirable but also welcomed .

What Is Normal in Such a Situation?

A shepherd would come and talk, provide documents, explain decisions, open dialogue.

None of that.

If the accusations are unfounded – why not prove the opposite?

Silence only increases suspicion.

What Do We Seek?

Nothing strange. Just: conversation, transparency.

Appeal to the Synod

The parishioners have exhausted all local paths. When the bishop will not listen – the Synod is the next step.

Everything is documented: letters, signatures, patience. Everything was peaceful and dignified.

Conclusion

This crisis did not have to happen. The solution is simple: conversation.

But instead of a conversation, the bishop sends the police.

Instead of a pastoral approach, he allows vandalism in the church.

Instead of listening to his people, he creates division.

The community still stands peacefully on its own.

The question still hangs: Why does Bishop Irinej call the police on his people instead of coming to talk with them?

Why does Bishop Irinej flee from his people?

Why does Bishop Irinej not want to talk with his people?

The answer is clear: Because he knows he has no answers to the questions they ask him.