Priest Allegedly Uses Confessions to Evict Mentally Ill Tenant from NYC Church-Owned Apartment
A lawsuit has been filed against a priest from the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Manhattan, alleging that he used the confessions of a mentally ill tenant, Magdalena Max Avramovich, to facilitate her eviction from a rent-stabilized apartment owned by the church. Avramovich, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, experienced a severe psychotic episode in February 2026, during which she sought confession and prayer from the priest, Zivojin Jakovljevic. The lawsuit claims that Jakovljevic shared sensitive information from her confession with the church board, which also served as her landlord, leading to her eviction. Avramovich had lived in the apartment for nearly three decades, paying $1,540 a month. The eviction occurred after she signed a 'surrender agreement' during her psychotic state, which she later regretted upon regaining lucidity. 
