After Eastern American Bishop Irinej last week obtained a court order banning several parishioners of St. Sava Church—whom he apparently considers the leaders of the rebellion—from accessing the church, this week, during the time of the liturgy, believers opposing the removal of priest Dragoslav Kosić were greeted by the police!
The police, who had already taken up positions in front of the church gate at 8 a.m. (two hours before the liturgy), informed them that, by order of the bishop, they were not allowed to remain on church property.
Moreover, the order applied to all rebelling parishioners, not only to those subject to the court restraining order.
“The bishop does not want you on this property, and there is nothing we can do except ask you to move away. This is the property of the Diocese, and we must act according to their order,” a police officer on duty politely explained to the gathered believers, as can also be heard in the footage we are publishing.
After strong police forces (four vehicles) issued a final warning before the use of force, the rebelling parishioners crossed to the other side of the street, where they expressed their dissatisfaction by protesting in the rain.
And so about 80 of them stood on the street, among them small children running around, while at the same time only a handful of believers gathered at the liturgy served by the new priest Dragan Vuković, appointed by Bishop Irinej…
CHURCH EMPTY: New priest Dragan Vuković served before only a few believers
This is already the ninth week since the conflict began, and the history of this case can be read at the links below the text…
The editorial staff of Serbian Times emphasizes that for two months they have been trying to hear the other side in this conflict, to obtain answers from Eastern American Bishop Irinej and the competent authorities in the Diocese, but responses—although promised at one point—have still not arrived.
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Source: Antonije Kovačević Foto/Video: Privatna arhiva