VICTORY OF REBELLIOUS BELIEVERS IN CLEVELAND: Four times fewer people in the church, at the service of the new priest, than outside in the snow! (VIDEO)

The rebellious parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Sava in Cleveland, who have been protesting for months over the removal of their priest by Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, achieved their first major victory yesterday.

Namely, at the first liturgy held in their church by the newly appointed priest, Dragan Vuković, who was sent to the parish to replace the deposed priest Dragoslav Kosić, around 25 believers gathered inside, while outside, in the snow and cold weather, four times as many remained.

MAJORITY OF PARISHIONERS IN PROTEST: As shown by the photos inside and outside the church

The rebellious parishioners peacefully protested in front of the cathedral, and the gathering began two hours before the liturgy. In front of the church, several police vehicles (as many as six) were observed, presumed to have arrived at the request of the new priest.

Those present emphasized that they had never seen so much police presence in one place in their city, but there was no need for intervention, as the entire gathering proceeded peacefully and with dignity.

The gathered believers allowed parishioners who wished to attend the service of the new priest to enter the church, and he spoke with them briefly.

“We need to be united, to send messages of love. Come to the holy liturgy, pray, say your prayers to the Lord,” the priest invited the parishioners into the church, to which they thanked him for the invitation but told him they would not give up their fight for their priest Dragoslav.

When asked why the bishop had not come even once to a liturgy in their church or to discuss the problem that had arisen, priest Vuković replied:

“Because there are people here who prefer arguing to talking.”

To his words, the parishioners responded that they were not seeking conflict but could not accept decisions based on false accusations against Father Dragoslav.

The conversation remained dignified until the moment the new priest voiced suspicion that one of the parishioners had taken the prosphora (communion bread) and wine from the church, which they firmly denied, calling it an insult.

After that, each went their separate way — the priest into the church, among the small number of parishioners who came to the service — and the protesters remained outside to express their dissatisfaction.

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That dissatisfaction culminated the previous Friday, when three people accompanied by police, acting on the order of Bishop Irinej, broke into the parish house where priest Kosić lives with his wife and four children, and changed the locks.