JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA = BISHOP IRINEJ'S GULAG“Unlimited power in the hands of limited people always leads to cruelty!” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn PART TWO

VICTIM #3: FR. RAJKO KOSIĆ

Holy Trinity, Pittsburgh → Holy Resurrection, Steubenville, OH

Fr. Rajko Kosić became priest at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh in 2000. For 20 years he faithfully served this community. He is the uncle of Fr. Dragoslav Kosić.

In 2020, he received an "Act of Transfer" to Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Steubenville, OH.

Time given to move: ONE MONTH. (The same cruel timeline as Fr. Stefan Zaremba.)

Fr. Nebojša Varagić now serves at Holy Trinity Pittsburgh. But before Fr. Varagić, there was another priest - one whose story reveals the depth of Bishop Irinej's premeditation and financial manipulation.

THE SMOKING GUN: PROPERTY RECORDS

Public property records tell a disturbing story of advance planning.

August 27, 2020: Fr. George Veselinović purchases a home at 104 Scarborough Lane, Pittsburgh for $455,000. The seller: Seman Michelle R & Jeffrey.

September 2020 (approximately): Fr. Rajko Kosić receives his "Act of Transfer" - one month to leave after 20 years of faithful service.

October 2020: Fr. George Veselinović officially replaces Fr. Rajko at Holy Trinity Pittsburgh.

Do you see the problem?

¹ Washington County, PA Property Records, PARID: 5400071202002500. Public records show purchase date of August 27, 2020, purchase price of $455,000, with Grantor: Seman Michelle R & Jeffrey, and Grantee: Veselinovic George & Karen E. Property later sold September 7, 2023 for $550,000 to Eskew Ryan W & Camila L M. These records are publicly accessible through Washington County property assessment databases.

THE TIMELINE PROVES PREMEDITATION

To purchase a home in the United States requires:

• Finding a property: ~1 month

• Mortgage approval and closing: 30-45 days

• Recording deed: 1-2 weeks

Minimum timeline: approximately 3 months

Fr. George closed on the house August 27, 2020. Work backwards 3 months: He began the process in May or June 2020 - house hunting, applying for mortgages.

But Fr. Rajko wasn't officially replaced until October 2020 - more than 4 months later.

This means Bishop Irinej knew in May or June that he would remove Fr. Rajko. He already had the replacement lined up from Monroeville. He was helping that replacement buy a house. All while Fr. Rajko had no idea.

Then, when it was time, Fr. Rajko got one month to uproot 20 years of his life.

This wasn't "needs of the diocese." This was premeditated removal.

THE FINANCIAL QUESTIONS

But the property records raise even more troubling questions:

How does a priest on a priest's salary afford a $455,000 mortgage?

Fr. George had been serving at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroeville, PA for three years before the transfer. His wife did not work outside the home - meaning a single income household.

A typical priest's salary might be $40,000-$50,000 per year. Banks generally require that monthly mortgage payments not exceed 28-30% of gross monthly income. For a $455,000 purchase (even with 20% down = $364,000 mortgage), monthly payments would be approximately $2,500-$3,000.

On a priest's salary, how does one qualify for such a mortgage?

A standard mortgage requires 10-20% down payment. For a $455,000 purchase, that's $45,000-$90,000 in cash.

Where did this down payment come from?

There are rumors that Fr. George's wife's father is wealthy and helped them financially with the down payment. However, these are unverified rumors.

The questions remain:

• Did Holy Trinity's parish funds contribute to the down payment?

• Did the parish board approve any financial assistance?

• Did the faithful vote on this at Parish Assembly?

• Or was this a private family matter?

These are questions the faithful of Holy Trinity Pittsburgh deserve answered.

Especially given the pattern of financial irregularities at St. Sava NYC ($8 million missing), one cannot help but wonder: When a priest is transferred to a new parish and purchases an expensive home, where does the money come from?

THE ПОСЛУШНИК WHO BETRAYED HIS MASTER

There's a bitter irony to this story.

Fr. George Veselinović had been serving at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroeville, PA for three years. When Bishop needed to remove Fr. Rajko, Fr. George was transferred from Monroeville to Holy Trinity Pittsburgh - for whom a $455,000 house was purchased, for whom parish funds may have been used.

But Fr. George didn't last long at Holy Trinity.

Shortly after arriving, Fr. George began spreading rumors that "Vladika will be gone."

Bishop Irinej's response: He sent Fr. George back to Australia.

Think about that sequence:

1. Bishop plans for months to remove Fr. Rajko (20 years faithful service)

2. Bishop transfers послушник from Monroeville to Pittsburgh

3. Bishop arranges $455,000 house purchase (with whose funds?)

4. Bishop gives Fr. Rajko only one month notice

5. Послушник arrives, immediately starts gossiping about Bishop's removal

6. Bishop sends him back to Australia in disgrace

So what did Holy Trinity Pittsburgh get from all this?

BEFORE Bishop Irinej's interference:

• Fr. Rajko Kosić: 20 years faithful service

• Parish finances intact

AFTER Bishop Irinej's interference:

• Fr. Rajko: Exiled to Steubenville

• Parish funds: Questions remain about house purchase

• Fr. George: Gossiped, sent back to Australia

• Parish: Left to pick up the pieces

Eventually: Fr. Nebojša Varagić becomes priest at Holy Trinity Pittsburgh.

But the questions remain: If parish funds were used for the down payment, were they ever recovered when Fr. George sold the house in 2023 for $550,000 (a $95,000 profit)? Who benefited from that sale?

THE FAMILY VENDETTA PATTERN

Remember: Fr. Rajko Kosić is the uncle of Fr. Dragoslav Kosić - the beloved priest of St. Sava Cathedral in Parma, whose parishioners now stand in -2°F snow.

Uncle removed in 2020. Nephew removed in 2025.

Bishop Irinej doesn't just target individual priests. He targets families

P.S. Fr. Rajko Kosić is well received at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Steubenville, OH. Thanks to the parishioners.

VICTIM #4: FR. NJEGOŠ PERKOVIĆ

St. Elijah, Aliquippa, PA → Fled to Canada

A young priest. Recently ordained. Full of idealism and love for the Church. Assigned to St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, PA in 2024.

He served for less than one year.

What follows is perhaps the cruelest story in this entire eight-year chronicle of persecution. Because it involves not just a priest, but a young family - a pregnant wife, life-threatening illness, hospitalization, and a bishop who showed no mercy whatsoever.

JULY 2024: THE FALSE ACCUSATIONS

Fr. Njegoš received an official communication from Bishop Irinej. The letter contained accusations of "bad behaviour."

The accusations had:

❌ No written complaints from parishioners❌ No witnesses willing to testify❌ No names attached to the complaints❌ Nothing that could be verified or defended against

Just vague accusations clearly designed to intimidate a young priest.

Sound familiar?

This is the exact same pattern used against:

• Fr. Stefan Zaremba: "Needs of the diocese" - no specifics, no explanation

• Fr. Rajko Kosić: Transfer ordered - no reason given at all

• Fr. Dragoslav Kosić: Removed without canonical trial - no charges filed, no names

When you can't remove a priest for legitimate reasons, you fabricate vague accusations that can't be challenged because they don't actually exist.

But here's what makes July 2024 particularly cruel:

At the exact time Bishop Irinej was sending these false accusations, Fr. Njegoš's wife - Popadija Sara - was in the hospital in Banja Luka fighting life-threatening allergies.

For nine days, she battled severe medical complications while her husband, an ocean away, received harassment from his bishop.

The bishop knew. And attacked anyway.

AUGUST 2024: LOVE BECOMES A CRIME

At the St. Elijah Slava celebration, Fr. Njegoš gave a speech. The faithful - who had come to love their young priest and his family genuinely - applauded and cheered.

They enjoyed having Fr. Njegoš. They supported his family. They showed their love.

Bishop Irinej's response: He accused Fr. Njegoš of "rallying the faithful."

Being loved by your parishioners became evidence of wrongdoing.

A meeting was arranged between Fr. Njegoš and Bishop Irinej. The young priest - innocent of any wrongdoing - came seeking what any young priest should expect from the bishop who ordained him: paternal love and guidance.

For a moment, it seemed things might calm down. Perhaps the bishop would show mercy. Perhaps he would guide this young priest with Christian love.

He did not.

Instead, Bishop Irinej began applying immense pressure again. No mercy was shown toward the young priest, whom he himself had ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

The bishop proceeded to consciously destroy a young priest and his young family instead of being there with Christian love to guide them as their Father in Christ.

Adding to the stress: Parish board members began entering the parish house at their will, disregarding Father's privacy, declaring: "This is OUR parish home."

The message was clear: This home doesn't belong to you, priest. You're not wanted here. Leave.

This tactic of invading clergy homes to pressure priests to leave would escalate even further in 2025. On December 5th, at St. Sava Cathedral in Parma, Bishop Irinej's family and kumovi board would invade Fr. Dragoslav Kosić's home, change the locks, and terrorize his family - his wife collapsing unconscious from the trauma. The pattern was already visible in 2024 at St. Elijah: Board members declaring parish homes don't belong to priests, invading their privacy, making them feel unsafe in their own homes. By 2025, the psychological intimidation had evolved into physical home invasion with lock-changing and family terrorization.

By the end of August 2024, Fr. Njegoš was released as parish priest and left only as "servicing priest" - a demotion, a humiliation, a warning.

SEPTEMBER 2024: THE CRUELTY TAKES ITS TOLL

Fr. Njegoš was hospitalized. Emergency appendectomy required.

The doctors confirmed that the medical emergency was due to significant stress endured.

A young priest - faithful, innocent, seeking only to serve God's people - was hospitalized because of the psychological torture inflicted by his own bishop.

Bishop Irinej's response to his hospitalized priest:

Nothing.

No phone call. No message. No inquiry about his health. No pastoral concern whatsoever.

No mercy. No love. No care.

That same month, Fr. Njegoš and his wife discovered they were expecting their first child. Popadija Sara was pregnant.

As one faithful observer noted: "Bishop is persecuting, God is blessing."

NOVEMBER 2024: THE FINAL CRUELTY

Twenty-five days' notice.

That's what Fr. Njegoš received. A letter of release. No further assignment. No position. No plan.

His wife was three months pregnant.

The letter specified:

❌ Release from St. Elijah, Aliquippa❌ No other parish assignment❌ Reason: "Needs of the Church."

This violates Canon Church Law. A bishop cannot simply leave a priest unassigned. There must be a canonical reason, a process, a trial if there are accusations.

There was none of that.

Just a decree: You're out. Your pregnant wife? Not my problem. Twenty-five days to figure out your life.

THE IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION

Fr. Njegoš was left with:

❌ No position❌ No assignment❌ No income❌ No health insurance (with pregnant wife!)❌ No housing❌ Twenty-five days to solve all of this

Options:

1. Stay in America without a position, without insurance, with a pregnant wife facing $10,000-$30,000 in medical bills for delivery.

2. Leave

There was no real choice.

Fr. Njegoš requested permission to transfer to Canada. Permission was granted immediately - just like Fr. Stefan Zaremba, the moment priests want to LEAVE Bishop Irinej's control, suddenly everything moves quickly.

THE EXODUS TO CANADA

Fr. Njegoš and his pregnant wife fled to Saint Sava Church, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Their baby girl was born safely in Canada. Mother and baby are healthy. The family is secure.

They escaped Bishop Irinej's cruelty. They found safety. They continue serving God's people.

But they should never have been forced to flee.

A young priest and his pregnant wife, driven from the Serbian Orthodox Church in America, not because of any wrongdoing, but because he refused to be a puppet.

THE REAL REASON

Why was Fr. Njegoš really removed?

The main reason behind this persecution and why Father was released is that he wasn't seen as someone who would be Irinej's puppet and do his dirty work. He didn't play Church; he sincerely lived and grew spiritually with his faithful community. He wanted to lead a parish the right way, leading all parishioners to Christ, not allowing ungodly people to be appointed by the Bishop to hijack the Church and its finances, which is now accomplished.

There it is.

Good priest = threat to financial control.

Won't be a puppet = must be removed.

Won't allow hijacking of parish finances = expelled.

St. Elijah, Aliquippa has approximately $2 MILLION in assets. Fr. Njegoš wouldn't let that money be controlled improperly.

So he had to go.

THE PATTERN OF CRUELTY

Look at the timeline of cruelty inflicted on this young family:

July: False accusations while his wife was hospitalized with a life-threatening illness. August: Accused of being loved by parishioners. September: Stress causes hospitalization; the bishop doesn't call. September: Wife discovers pregnancy. November: Twenty-five days' notice, pregnant wife, no assignment, against canon law. Result: Forced to flee to another country

This is not church discipline. This is systematic cruelty designed to break a young priest and his family.