Bishop Irinej's Governance Crisis in Serbian Orthodox Diocese: Financial & Ecumenical Concerns

By Special Correspondent

The Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland finds itself at the center of what many are calling the Bishop Irinej governance crisis—an escalating situation involving governance disputes, controversial ecumenical activities, and concerning financial discrepancies—all raising serious questions about the future direction of the parish and its leadership.

Parish Governance Under Siege

Parishioners at Saint Sava Cathedral have expressed mounting concerns over what they describe as a systematic undermining of proper parish governance by Bishop Irinej of Eastern America. According to parish documents and meeting minutes obtained by this publication, the democratically elected 2025 Parish Board faces significant obstacles to assuming their rightful duties.

"Our unanimously elected Board President was rejected without canonical basis, while individuals with close personal connections to His Grace have been imposed on our leadership," said one concerned parishioner who requested anonymity.

The controversy escalated when Bishop Irinej initially rejected the entire elected board with only vague explanations, prompting parishioners to schedule an emergency meeting for February 23rd to discuss the situation. However, Bishop Irinej reportedly forbade this meeting, preventing open discussion of these issues. He later met with the elected board on March 8th, after which he rejected the unanimously elected board president, citing reasons of "keeping peace in the eparchy and parish" and questions about "her membership status"—despite clear evidence presented at the meeting confirming her proper membership status.

At the same time, Bishop Irinej approved former corresponding secretary appointment despite documented evidence of her making false statements about other board members. When Financial Secretary offered proof during the meeting that former corresponding secretary had attempted to alter official communications, Bishop Irinej explicitly refused to review this evidence. This apparent favoritism toward former corresponding secretary and her father, former Board President, has reportedly created significant uproar among parishioners who are distressed that the Bishop would approve someone who demonstrably provided false information while rejecting a unanimously elected, hardworking parishioner with proper membership status.

Bishop Irinej then ordered Father Dragoslav to assemble the board to take their oaths, but when this didn't occur within his expected timeframe, he issued a directive on April 1, 2025, instructing Protopresbyter Dragan Goronjić to travel to Cleveland on April 6 to administer these oaths—explicitly bypassing the parish's own priest and standard protocols.

Most alarmingly, parishioners report that a monk from another parish has been regularly performing Father Dragoslav's duties within Saint Sava Cathedral—blessing holy water, cutting Slava bread, and conducting memorial services—an unprecedented intrusion that violates established ecclesiastical protocols.

Bishop Irinej's Governance Crisis: A Pattern Emerges

The situation at St. Sava Cathedral is not isolated. Sources throughout the Eastern American Diocese report similar governance violations under Bishop Irinej's leadership, raising questions about systematic patterns of canonical abuse and administrative overreach.

Controversial Ecumenical Activities Raise Canon Law Concerns

Adding to these governance issues, Bishop Irinej has come under scrutiny for his participation in what traditionalist Orthodox sources describe as "heretical ecumenist activity." According to reports published by Subdeacon Nektarios and other Orthodox observers, Bishop Irinej joined Archbishop Elpidophoros of America (Greek Orthodox) and Metropolitan Tikhon (Orthodox Church in America) at the installation Mass of Roman Catholic Cardinal Robert McElroy in Washington, D.C. on March 11, 2025.

This participation has drawn sharp criticism from traditionalists who cite Apostolic Canon 45, which states: "Let a bishop, presbyter, or deacon, who has only prayed with heretics, be excommunicated: but if he has permitted them to perform any clerical office, let him be deposed."

The timing of this ecumenical service—just two days after the Sunday of Holy Orthodoxy, when Orthodox Christians traditionally affirm their distinctive doctrines—has particularly inflamed critics. During the Sunday of Holy Orthodoxy service, Orthodox parishes typically recite prayers for "the conversion of those who have gone astray" and proclaim anathemas against certain non-Orthodox teachings.

Financial Discrepancies Raise Alarm

Parallel to these theological and governance concerns are troubling financial discrepancies that threaten church properties. Summit County tax records show that the Marcha Monastery property, which houses a cemetery where generations of Serbian Orthodox faithful are interred, faces nearly $235,000 in tax liabilities, penalties, and upcoming obligations.

During a March 8th meeting with parishioners, Bishop Irinej claimed that "Marcha has a lot of money, over $200,000 in a special account from our wood harvesting operation" and that he was "told by Columbus and Government not to pay any taxes" while awaiting tax exemption processing. However, financial reports presented at the yearly Diocesan Assembly in Lackawanna, NY do not document this special account, while showing the Diocese operating at a significant deficit.

The 2024 financial report reveals the Eastern American Diocese had a net operating revenue of -$64,054.21. Particularly concerning is the Shadeland property, which operated at a deficit of -$155,018.26 in 2024. While Bishop Irinej claims timber harvesting generates substantial revenue for renovation projects at both properties, the Diocese is simultaneously soliciting $100,000 from parishes to renovate the caretaker's house at Shadeland.

Families Divided, Community in Turmoil

At the heart of these controversies are allegations of favoritism and undue influence by certain individuals close to Bishop Irinej. Parishioners report that deacon, reportedly not even members of the parish, regularly attend and allegedly create discord.

During thepreparation for parish's St. Sava Day celebration, choir director’s wife allegedly attempted to conduct choir practice with children without permission from parents, teachers, or the priest—creating confusion and distress among the children. She later reportedly misrepresented this incident to Bishop Irinej as being "not permitted to have choir practice."

Pattern of Clergy Removals Raises Concerns

The situation at Saint Sava Cathedral appears to follow a troubling pattern of clergy removals under Bishop Irinej's leadership. Sources familiar with diocesan history point to several previous incidents involving abrupt reassignments of priests:

• Father Zivojin Jakovljevic in New York City, who reportedly experienced similar conflicts with the Bishop

• Father Njego from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, who was removed while his wife was pregnant, leaving the family without health insurance

• Father Rajko Kosic, who was also reassigned under contentious circumstances

• Father Vladislav Radujkovic, who likewise faced unexpected removal from his parish

• Father Stevan Zeremba, asked for and received a canonical release from the Diocese of Eastern America of the SOC and was received into the Eastern American Diocese of ROCOR, retired as a priest of the Russian Church in St. Petersburg, FL.

"These are not isolated incidents but appear to form a pattern of governance that has caused significant disruption to parish communities and the lives of clergy families," noted one long-time observer of diocesan affairs.

Parish at a Crossroads

As the April 6th Divine Liturgy approaches, when Dean Father Dragan is scheduled to execute Bishop Irinej's directive, the Saint Sava Cathedral parish finds itself at a critical juncture. Many parishioners fear that these governance actions represent preliminary steps toward removing Father Dragoslav Kosić, despite his eight years of service to the community—following the same pattern seen with other priests throughout the diocese.

"We remain devoted to our Serbian Orthodox Church and traditions," stated a group of concerned parishioners. "We seek only proper adherence to our parish bylaws, financial transparency, and the preservation of our parish's spiritual well-being."

The situation continues to develop, with parishioners organizing to address these concerns through proper ecclesiastical channels while preparing for potential further escalation of this deeply troubling situation.

Editor's Note: This newspaper has reached out to the Eastern American Diocese for comment but has not received a response as of press time.

Response to the Guest's comment below::

Dear Guest,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Since you've offered opinions about "unfounded claims" and "internal problems," let me offer you something in return: documented facts.

On "Unfounded Claims"

You call these claims "unfounded." Let's examine what you're calling unfounded:

CLAIM: Marcha Monastery owes $233,656.05 in taxes

STATUS: Not unfounded. Documented by Summit County, Ohio Auditor. Public record. Would you like the case number?

CLAIM: Bishop Irinej claimed a non-existent tax exemption

STATUS: Not unfounded. No such exemption exists in Ohio Revised Code §5709.07. Feel free to check.

CLAIM: Three certified letters to the Holy Synod were blocked

STATUS: Not unfounded. We have USPS certified mail receipts. We have return receipts with signatures. Would you like to see them?

CLAIM: Fr. Dragoslav was removed with 48 hours' notice instead of required 30 days

STATUS: Not unfounded. Episcopal Acts E. No. 425, 426, 427 dated October 28, 2025, effective October 31, 2025. That's 72 hours, but who's counting? Serbian Orthodox Church canon law (Ustav SPC, Član 68) requires 30 days. Simple math.

CLAIM: $25,000+ in donor funds for monastery house remain unaccounted

STATUS: Not unfounded. Ask Mr. Aleks Mačeski, Honorary Consul and Order of St. Sava recipient, about his unanswered letters requesting accountability.

CLAIM: $200,000 in timber revenue is undocumented

STATUS: Not unfounded. Show me where it appears in diocesan financial reports. I'll wait.

So when you say "unfounded claims," what you actually mean is: "claims I find inconvenient but cannot refute with evidence."

There's a difference.

On "Internal Problems"

You're absolutely right that St. Sava has problems. But let's be clear about what those problems are:

The Problem Is NOT:

• Fr. Dragoslav's leadership

• Young people leaving (actually, many came back specifically to support him)

• "Internal" management issues

The Problem IS:

• A bishop who removes priests with 48 hours' notice

• A bishop who blocks parishioners' communications to the Holy Synod

• A bishop who has created a quarter-million-dollar tax crisis through negligence

• A bishop who cannot account for donor funds or timber revenue

• A bishop who thinks "trust me" is sufficient financial documentation

Those aren't "internal problems" caused by parish leadership. Those are external abuses by the diocesan hierarchy.

When your roof leaks, you don't blame the furniture for getting wet. You fix the roof.

On Your Family's Contribution in the 1960s

You say your family contributed to building St. Sava in the 1960s. That's admirable. Truly.

But let me ask you something:

When your family helped build that church in the 1960s, did they build it so that:

• Bishops could violate canonical law with impunity?

• Priests could be removed without proper notice?

• Parishioners' communications to Belgrade could be blocked?

• Financial mismanagement could threaten church properties?

Or did they build it as a house of God where truth, justice, and proper church governance would prevail?

If you're "disheartened" by the current state of affairs, join the club. We're all disheartened.

But some of us are doing something about it instead of blaming the victims.

On "Causing Unnecessary Problems"

You say these claims are "causing unnecessary problems."

Let me clarify something: We didn't cause these problems. We're exposing them.

The problems were caused by:

• Bishop Irinej not filing a simple DTE Form 23 for tax exemption

• Bishop Irinej collecting $25,000 for a monastery house never built

• Bishop Irinej failing to document $200,000 in timber revenue

• Bishop Irinej ignoring three certified letters from his parishioners

• Bishop Irinej removing Fr. Dragoslav with 48 hours' notice

We're just pointing out that $233,656 in unpaid taxes is, in fact, a problem.

If you think the problem is that we're talking about the tax crisis rather than the tax crisis existing, you've confused cause and effect.

On Attribution of Blame

You say "it is unfair to attribute blame to others when this situation arises."

Okay, let's talk about blame:

Who is responsible for filing tax exemption paperwork? The bishop.Who claimed a non-existent exemption? The bishop.Who removed Fr. Dragoslav with 48 hours' notice? The bishop.Who blocked three certified letters to the Holy Synod? The bishop.Who cannot account for donor funds? The bishop.Who failed to document timber revenue? The bishop.

So when you say we're attributing blame "unfairly," what you mean is: we should blame anyone except the person actually responsible.

Hard pass.

On "Poorly Managed"

You claim St. Sava has been "poorly managed" since Fr. Zivojin left.

Evidence, please.

Because what I see is:

• A priest who faithfully served his community

• A community that loves and supports their priest

• Young people who came back to stand with Fr. Dragoslav

• A cathedral full of faithful who threw down their tools and said "not on our watch"

That doesn't look like poor management to me. That looks like a community that knows exactly what they have and refuses to let it be taken unjustly.

If St. Sava were truly "poorly managed," would hundreds of parishioners have gathered to defend their priest? Would families who rarely come to church show up to stand with him? Would young people who allegedly "left" return to support him?

Your narrative doesn't match reality.

On Marcha Monastery "and Everything Else"

You mention "Marcha and everything else that is going on."

Yes. Let's talk about "everything else":

• Shadeland operating deficit: $155,018.26 (2024)

• Missing donor funds: $25,000+

• Undocumented timber revenue: $200,000

• Blocked communications to Holy Synod: 3 certified letters

• Canonical violations: 48 hours instead of 30 days

• Three ignored vacation requests from Fr. Dragoslav

That's quite a bit of "everything else," isn't it?

And it's all documented. All verifiable. All "founded" despite your claim otherwise.

The Real Question

Here's what I want to know, dear commenter:

What would it take for you to be concerned?

• $233,656 in unpaid taxes isn't enough?

• Missing donor funds isn't enough?

• Blocked communications to Belgrade isn't enough?

• Canonical violations isn't enough?

• A beloved priest removed with 48 hours' notice isn't enough?

At what point do you stop blaming "internal problems" and start demanding accountability from the hierarchy?

Or is there no amount of documented evidence that would make you question Bishop Irinej's administration?

A Challenge

You say these are "unfounded claims causing unnecessary problems."

I challenge you:

1. Refute the tax liability. Show me where Marcha Monastery's taxes are paid or properly exempted.

2. Refute the blocked letters. Explain how three certified letters with return receipts don't constitute blocked communication.

3. Refute the 48-hour removal. Show me how October 28 to October 31 equals 30 days.

4. Refute the missing donor funds. Show me where the $25,000 monastery house was built or the money returned.

5. Refute the undocumented timber revenue. Show me where $200,000 in timber sales appears in financial reports.

If you can refute any of these with evidence, I will publicly apologize and retract every word.

But if you can't—and you can't, because the evidence is overwhelming—then perhaps you should reconsider who's making "unfounded claims."

Final Thoughts

Your family helped build St. Sava in the 1960s. That's a legacy to be proud of.

But that legacy is at risk right now—not from Fr. Dragoslav, not from "internal problems," but from hierarchical abuse and financial mismanagement.

You can either:

A) Continue blaming victims and dismissing documented evidence as "unfounded claims"

OR

B) Stand with those trying to protect the church your family helped build from being destroyed by incompetence and corruption

The choice is yours.

But when Marcha Monastery is foreclosed because of unpaid taxes, when more priests are removed without proper notice, when donor funds continue to disappear, when financial mismanagement bankrupts the diocese—

Don't say you weren't warned.

Because we're warning you now. With documents. With evidence. With witnesses.

These aren't unfounded claims. These are founded, documented, verifiable facts.

And the fact that you find them inconvenient doesn't make them less true.

P.S.

If you truly care about the church your family helped build in the 1960s, demand that Bishop Irinej:

1. File DTE Form 23 for Marcha Monastery tax exemption

2. Pay the $233,656 in back taxes before foreclosure

3. Account for the $25,000 in donor funds

4. Document the $200,000 in timber revenue

5. Restore Fr. Dragoslav with proper apology

6. Stop blocking communications to the Holy Synod

That would solve the "unnecessary problems" you're concerned about.

Everything else is just noise.

Sincerely,

Someone Who Actually Has Documentation

P.S.S. - "Unfounded" means "without foundation." We have tax records, certified mail receipts, episcopal acts, financial reports, and dozens of witnesses. That's a pretty solid foundation. Just saying.