BREAKING: Bishop Orders Theft of Antimins - Ex-Board President Illegally Enters Cathedral
- Special Correspodent
- Nov 18, 2025
- 8 min read
November 18, 2025 - St. Sava Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio
In a shocking escalation of the ongoing crisis at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland, former board president Dragan Knežević unlawfully entered the cathedral today and, accompanied by a monk from Marcha Monastery, removed the antimins from the church. This action was taken on orders from Bishop Irinej Dobrijević of the Eastern American Diocese.
Photographic evidence, video documentation, and police reports confirm what can only be described as a coordinated criminal conspiracy designed to both disable the cathedral and frame Father Dragoslav Kosić for theft.
THE PREMEDITATED SETUP
On Sunday, November 16, 2025, video evidence shows former board president Dragan Knežević removing and destroying security cameras at St. Sava Cathedral.
Present and watching—but doing nothing to stop this vandalism—were his son-in-law and Stanka Nikolić, the bishop's kuma, president of Kolo Sestara (Circle of Serbian Sisters), and current board vice president.
STANKA NIKOLIĆ: THE BISHOP'S KUMA WHO WATCHED CRIME HAPPEN
Let that sink in: A woman who holds three positions of trust and moral authority in the church—the bishop's own kuma, leader of the sisterhood, member of the board—stood silently and watched as church property was destroyed.
She said nothing.She did nothing.She did not stop him.She did not object.She did not call for help.She did not report the crime.
As the president of Kolo Sestara—an organization dedicated to serving the church and preserving its traditions—she had a sacred duty to protect church property. She failed.
As a board vice president, she had a legal and fiduciary responsibility to prevent destruction of church assets. She failed.
As the bishop's kuma—someone who should exemplify Orthodox Christian values and set an example for the community—she had a moral obligation to speak out against wrongdoing. She failed.
Instead, she was complicit.
Her silence wasn't passive. Her presence alongside Dragan as he destroyed the cameras sent a clear message: "This has approval from the top." Her connection to the bishop—as his kuma—made her silence even more damning. This wasn't a random bystander failing to intervene. This was church leadership actively enabling criminal activity.
That same Sunday, November 16, Z (Zora L.) stated in the church office in front of multiple witnesses: "Oh what a shame for the cameras, now we can't see if Fr. Dragoslav stole something."
The setup was now complete: cameras destroyed, false narrative planted.
THE THEFT
Two days later, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, the same Dragan Knežević—accompanied by a monk from Marcha Monastery—unlawfully entered St. Sava Cathedral and removed the antimins on orders from Bishop Irinej Dobrijević.
The antimins is not merely a sacred object. It is the consecrated cloth without which Divine Liturgy cannot be celebrated. Its removal effectively shuts down the cathedral.
The timing reveals clear premeditation:
Sunday, Nov 16: Remove cameras to eliminate surveillance
Sunday, Nov 16: Plant false narrative about Fr. Dragoslav stealing
Tuesday, Nov 18: Commit the actual theft with no cameras recording
THE COVER-UP ATTEMPT
When questioned by Parma Police, the monk from Marcha Monastery initially refused to disclose what items had been removed from the cathedral.
He repeatedly claimed they had only taken "three boxes of wasted candles" (leftover candle wax from vigil candles lit by parishioners).
However:
Photographic evidence shows only TWO boxes that appear to contain candle materials
The monk is clearly carrying the antimins separately
Only after repeated questioning by police did he finally admit to taking the antimins
Critical questions remain unanswered:
Why lie to police about what was taken?
Why initially conceal the removal of the antimins?
What else might be concealed inside the "candle wax" boxes? The boxes are large enough to hide other items.
The deception raises serious concerns: If they had legitimate authority to remove these items as claimed, why lie to law enforcement about what was taken?
THEIR JUSTIFICATION: PROTECTING CHURCH PROPERTY?
When confronted, Dragan and the monk claimed they were "trying to protect church property" by removing items because "the parishioners stole the nafora (communion veils)."
However, our respected parishioner J., who has been making pospora (prosphora/communion bread) for years, stated that she has not made any since the beginning of October. This raises a legitimate question: Is it possible the nafora were never there to begin with?
This same question was asked by another parishioner, Z.V., during the police investigation.
So their justification for "protecting church property" by stealing the antimins is based on an accusation that the community stole nafora—nafora that may never have existed in the first place.
Convenient excuse to commit theft, isn't it?
WHAT ELSE IS MISSING?
After the incident, parishioners Miki P. and Ryan C. entered the altar to assess what else might have been taken. However, as laypeople, they cannot definitively determine what sacred items should be present in the altar area versus what is now missing.
When they asked the monk what else had been removed, he insisted "nothing else" was taken.
But why should anyone believe this claim?
The monk already:
Lied to police about what was taken
Initially concealed the removal of the antimins
Only admitted the truth after repeated police questioning
Claimed "three boxes of candles" when photos show only two
His credibility is destroyed.
The reality: Only someone with proper knowledge of the altar's contents—such as Father Dragoslav Kosić—could accurately inventory what sacred items are now missing. But Father Dragoslav has been removed and is no longer allowed access.
Convenient, isn't it?
Remove the priest who knows what belongs in the altar. Remove the cameras that would record what's taken. Then remove whatever you want, and claim you only took "candle wax."
Who can contradict you when the only witnesses are your accomplices?
THE EVIDENCE
Photographic Evidence:
Dragan Knežević and monk from Marcha carrying boxes out of St. Sava Cathedral
Parma Police vehicle responding to the scene
Police officers inside the cathedral conducting investigation
Video Evidence:
Dragan Knežević destroying security cameras on November 16, 2025
Stanka Nikolić and his son-in-law present, watching, doing nothing to stop the vandalism
Witness Testimony:
Multiple witnesses to Z's statement about cameras and Fr. Dragoslav
Witnesses to the unauthorized entry and removal of items
Police officers who questioned the monk and Dragan Knežević
Police Report:
Filed with Parma Police Department for unauthorized entry, theft, and vandalism
THE LEGAL VIOLATIONS
Criminal Violations:
Unauthorized entry: Dragan Knežević is no longer board president and had no authority to enter the church
Theft: Removal of sacred items (antimins and potentially other altar items) without authorization
Vandalism: Destruction of security cameras
Conspiracy: Pre-planned false accusations against Fr. Dragoslav
Obstruction: Lying to police about what was taken
Civil Violations:
Destruction of church property (cameras)
Trespass
Potential additional property damage yet to be assessed
THE CANONICAL VIOLATION
Removing the antimins renders the church unable to celebrate Divine Liturgy. This is canonical warfare—using the most sacred elements of worship as weapons in a power struggle.
This action violates the fundamental purpose of a church: to be a place where the faithful gather to worship God through the Holy Mysteries.
By removing the antimins on the bishop's orders, Bishop Irinej has effectively declared: "If you will not submit to me, you will not worship at all."
This is not pastoral care. This is spiritual tyranny.
CRITICAL LEGAL CONCERN: SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT
If criminal charges are not pursued against those who vandalized church property and committed theft, it sets a dangerous precedent.
Any future vandalism or theft at St. Sava Cathedral could cite this case as justification: "If they could destroy cameras and steal sacred items without consequences, why can't we?"
The failure to prosecute this crime would effectively declare St. Sava Cathedral open to future criminal activity.
This is why the community demands:
Full criminal investigation with complete inventory of all items taken
Independent audit of all sacred items and church property
Criminal charges against all involved in this theft and vandalism
Return of the antimins to its rightful place in the cathedral
Restoration of security systems to prevent future incidents
WHY THIS MATTERS
This incident demonstrates:
1. Bishop Irinej's willingness to use unauthorized persons to circumvent proper procedures
Dragan Knežević has no current authority in the parish
Yet the bishop uses him as an agent to commit acts the bishop cannot openly order
2. Pre-meditation and conspiracy
Camera removal (Sunday)
False narrative planted (Sunday)
Theft executed (Tuesday)
This was planned, coordinated, and executed with precision
3. Desecration of sacred space for political purposes
The antimins is not a bargaining chip
The altar is not a warehouse to raid
The church is not the bishop's personal property to control through theft
4. Criminal activity in pursuit of silencing legitimate concerns
The community has raised legitimate governance and financial questions
Rather than address these concerns transparently, the bishop resorts to:
Removing priests who help parishioners
Destroying surveillance equipment
Stealing sacred items
Planting false accusations
THE PATTERN CONTINUES
This theft is not an isolated incident. It is the latest in a two-year pattern of:
Ignored canonical appeals (three certified letters)
Rejected democratically-elected board members
Forbidden parish meetings
Retaliatory removal of clergy (Fr. Dragoslav, 48 hours notice)
Blocked access to transparency
And now: outright criminal activity
Each escalation occurs when the community refuses to be silenced. Each time they follow proper procedures, the response becomes more extreme.
Where does it end?
STANKA NIKOLIĆ'S BETRAYAL
And then, two days later, when Dragan returned with a monk to steal the antimins, where was Stanka? Silent. Where was her outrage? Nowhere. Where was her duty to protect the church? Abandoned.
Stanka Nikolić is not a victim of this crisis. She is an architect of it.
Her betrayal of her positions, her community, and her faith is complete. The bishop chose his kuma well—someone who would watch crime happen and say nothing, as long as it served his purposes.
The Kolo Sestara deserves better leadership. The church deserves better board members. The bishop deserves better company.
But perhaps they all deserve each other.
NEXT STEPS
This evidence, along with all documentation of the two-year crisis at St. Sava Cleveland, will be presented to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The faithful community continues to:
Stand outside their cathedral in peaceful witness
Pray for justice and resolution
Maintain their faithfulness to the Serbian Orthodox Church
Refuse to participate in what they believe are canonical and criminal violations
Wait for the Holy Synod to exercise its God-given authority to address this crisis
The community is not asking for revenge. They are asking for:
Return of Father Dragoslav Kosić
Recognition of their legitimately elected board
Oversight to ensure proper procedures are followed
Justice for criminal acts committed against their cathedral
The ability to worship God in the church their ancestors built
A COMMUNITY'S PLEA
We, the faithful of St. Sava Cathedral Cleveland, have exhausted every proper channel. We have followed every canonical procedure. We have been patient beyond measure. We have maintained our dignity even while being locked out of our own cathedral.
Now our sacred items are being stolen.Now criminals operate with impunity.Now we must watch as our church is systematically dismantled.
We ask:
To the Parma Police Department: Pursue full criminal charges against all involved. Do not let this become a precedent for future crimes.
To the Holy Synod: See the pattern. Recognize the crisis. Exercise your authority before this community is permanently fractured.
To the Serbian Orthodox faithful worldwide: This could be your parish next. This pattern has emerged in Australia, in New York, and now Cleveland. Where will it stop?
To Bishop Irinej Dobrijević: Return the antimins. Allow your community to worship. Stop using sacred things as weapons. If you have concerns about Father Dragoslav or the elected board, address them through proper canonical and legal channels—not through theft and vandalism.
CONCLUSION
The removal of the antimins from St. Sava Cathedral is not church administration. It is not canonical discipline. It is not proper episcopal authority.
It is theft.It is desecration.It is spiritual abuse.It is criminal activity.
And it was done on a bishop's orders.
Let that reality sink in.
The faithful of Cleveland continue to pray, continue to hope, and continue to wait for justice.
Neka bude volja Tvoja. Thy will be done.
But they will not be silent about what has been done to their church.
For more information and ongoing updates about the crisis at St. Sava Cathedral Cleveland, follow our coverage.
Evidence including photos, videos, and documentation is being preserved and will be made available to appropriate authorities.
If you have information about this incident or other concerning activities, please contact the Parma Police Department.
Comments