Crisis in the Serbian Orthodox Diocese: Governance Issues, Ecumenical Controversies, and Financial Concerns

By Special Correspondent

The Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland finds itself at the center of an escalating crisis 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.

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.