Yesterday, for the 17th consecutive week, rebellious parishioners of the Church of Saint Sava in Cleveland (Parma) protested in front of the church, demanding that the Eastern American Bishop reinstate suspended priest Dragoslav Kosić.
Priest Kosić continues to live in the parish home with his wife and four children, but for the past three months has not received a salary from the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Eparchy.
Meanwhile, the rebellious members of the Church School Municipality of Saint Sava decided to hire a lawyer, citing, as they say, constant violations of their rights and the rights of their children.
“The trustee appointed by Bishop Irinej expelled 80 children—members of the Folklore Group Serbia—onto the street and severed ties with the group after 40 years. On top of that, they contacted the Folklore Group Rastko from Detroit and the local priest there, trying to block our children’s performance at a festival to be held in that church,” one of the rebellious parishioners in Cleveland told Serbian Times.
He emphasized that it pains them that Bishop Irinej will visit the church in nearby Akron in March but refuses to stop by Cleveland to meet with them.
“The bishop is coming to Akron, just 40 minutes from Cleveland, but does not want to come to Cleveland and help resolve this situation,” the parishioner added.