THE SHEPHERD WITH A POLICE BADGE
- Special Correspodent
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
Bishop Irinej's Pattern: Visiting Churches Under Police Escort
Ohio – March 17, 2026
AN INTERESTING FACT:
Has it become Bishop Irinej Dobrijević's habit to visit churches and monasteries in Ohio under police escort?
Answer: increasingly, it appears: Yes.
MARCH 15 — ST. SAVA CATHEDRAL, CLEVELAND:
After more than a year of absence, Bishop Irinej attempted a covert, unannounced visit to St. Sava Cathedral in Cleveland.
His escort? Eight police vehicles.
The Bishop slipped in like a thief in the night, celebrated the Divine Liturgy behind a police cordon, offered not a single word to the parishioners who have been standing outside for 20 weeks in the rain and snow, and left the same way he arrived — surrounded by police.
MARCH 15 — THAT EVENING — ST. MARK'S MONASTERY:
Later that evening, after his police-escorted visit to St. Sava Cathedral, Bishop Irinej arrived — unannounced — at St. Mark's Monastery.
Again, he came with police.
The faithful who had come to pray Great Lenten Vespers with Father Leontije — a sacred time of fasting, reflection, and spiritual renewal — arrived to find the bishop already there, with a police escort.
Their reaction was heartbreaking.
Some turned around in the parking lot and got back in their cars. They went home without prayer.
Others left in tears, distressed that the bishop had ruined yet another Great Lenten Vespers service.
THE PATTERN:
Two churches. One day. Both visits unannounced. Both under police escort.
This is not normal.
Bishops do not normally require eight police vehicles to visit their own church.
Bishops do not normally arrive unannounced at monasteries with a police escort during Great Lent.
Bishops do not normally inspire their faithful to turn around in the parking lot and drive home in tears.
THE QUESTION:
Why does Bishop Irinej need police to visit churches?
Is he afraid of his own flock?
Does he believe the faithful pose a threat?
Or is the show of force intended to intimidate — to remind the faithful who holds power?
WHAT THIS REVEALS:
When a bishop cannot enter a church without police, something is deeply wrong.
When the faithful leave a place of prayer because of who they find inside, the church has lost its purpose.
When people leave Great Lenten Vespers in tears — not from spiritual conviction but from spiritual desolation — the shepherd has lost his flock.
SHEPHERD VS. FUGITIVE:
A true shepherd walks among his sheep.
A fugitive hides behind police.
A true shepherd seeks out those who suffer.
A fugitive turns them away.
A true shepherd brings peace.
A fugitive brings tears.
THE HUMAN COST:
At St. Sava Cathedral, the majority of families stand outside in the cold every Sunday, unable to pray in the church their ancestors built.
At St. Mark's Monastery, the faithful abandoned prayer during Great Lent — one of the most sacred seasons in the Orthodox year.
People who came seeking spiritual consolation left in tears.
This is the fruit of Bishop Irinej's leadership: churches that repel people instead of drawing them in.
WHAT THE FAITHFUL SAY:
"We came to pray with Father Leontije. When we saw the bishop was there with police, we couldn't stay. We just... couldn't."
"People were crying. It is Great Lent. We should be preparing our souls. Instead, the bishop arrives unannounced, and we, unwilling to have him desecrate our prayer, are forced to leave our own monastery."
"He ruined yet another Lenten service. He turned yet another holy service into a painful scene."
THE VERDICT:
So yes, to answer our opening question: It does appear to be Bishop Irinej's habit to visit churches and monasteries in Ohio under police escort.
Two visits. One day. Both with police. Both unannounced. Both leaving tears in their wake.
This is not how one tends a flock.
This is how a fugitive moves through hostile territory.
The question is not whether this is Bishop Irinej's pattern.
The question is: How much longer will the faithful endure a bishop who treats them as enemies?
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