Holy Week Disrupted: Bishop’s Demand to Silence Community Blog Raises Constitutional Questions

Author: Special Correspondent

As Orthodox faithful at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Parma, OH, entered Holy Week seeking spiritual renewal through prayer and repentance, an unexpected development instead drew attention to ongoing governance issues that have troubled the parish in recent months.

Silencing Communication

According to multiple witnesses present at last night’s evening service, Father Dragoslav Kosic informed parishioners that he had received an official directive (Act) from Bishop Irinej demanding that he “shut down” a blog run by community members—a blog with which the priest has no affiliation or control.

“We wanted this Holy Week to be entirely dedicated to Christ’s Passion and spiritual preparation for Easter,” said one parishioner who wished to remain anonymous. “Instead, we’re faced with what appears to be an attempt to stifle community discussion about legitimate parish concerns.”

The blog serves as an independent forum where community members can read and discuss governance issues affecting St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, and the broader Diocese of Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including questions about financial transparency and adherence to parish bylaws.

Constitutional Questions

Legal experts consulted by this publication note that this demand raises significant First Amendment concerns.

“The Constitution protects both freedom of speech and freedom of the press,” explained an attorney specializing in American Constitutional Law and Civil Rights in America, who is not directly involved in the case. “While religious organizations have some autonomy in ecclesiastical matters, attempting to suppress individuals’ discussion of issues significant to the community potentially crosses into protected territory.”

Particularly troubling for parishioners is the timing of the directive—during Holy Week, traditionally a period when Orthodox Christians focus on spiritual reflection rather than administrative disputes.

“The timing forces us to address governance issues just when we hoped to set them aside for prayer and preparation for Easter,” noted another community member. “It’s very unfortunate.”

Priest Caught in the Middle of Conflict

The situation places Father Dragoslav in an impossible position. According to parishioners present when he shared the news, he explained that he has no authority or ability to comply with the directive since he has no connection to or control over the independent blog, and he asked those present to, if they know who manages the blog, request that it be removed from the internet.

What makes this directive particularly concerning is the implicit threat: if Father Dragoslav fails to fulfill this impossible demand, he faces potential suspension of his priestly duties—effectively barring him from serving the community as their priest.

“Father Dragoslav has focused on leading the parish through the beautiful and profound services of Holy Week,” observed a longtime parish member. “Placing this burden on him during this sacred time, with such serious consequences tied to a demand he cannot fulfill, feels particularly troubling.”

The priest has maintained a dignified approach despite this pressure, simply informing the community of the directive he received while continuing to lead the parish through Holy Week services.

Broader Pattern of Concerns

This latest development comes amid ongoing concerns about governance within the Diocese of Eastern America of the SOC, including:

• Questions about appointments and rejections of parish board members

• Concerns about financial transparency and revenue from timber sales

• The prohibition of a scheduled parish meeting in February

• The introduction of practices from other jurisdictions without proper procedural consideration

For a community hoping to focus on the spiritual significance of Holy Week, the timing of this latest directive has struck many as particularly disruptive.

Looking Forward with Faith

Despite this unexpected disruption, parishioners have expressed determination to maintain their spiritual focus while also preserving their right to discuss community issues.

“We will continue to attend the beautiful services of Holy Week and prepare our hearts for Easter,” affirmed one parishioner. “But we also know our responsibility to protect open communication about issues affecting our parish community.”

As the joyous holiday of Christ's Resurrection approaches, the St. Sava community finds itself trying to balance a path that honors both their Orthodox religious traditions and their rights as citizens—a challenge they did not anticipate during this sacred season.

Editor’s Note: At the time of publication we have not received a response to our request for a comment from the Dioceses of Eastern America of Serbian Orthodox Church regarding this directive and will update this report if a response is received.