Priest Accused of Using Confession Booth Information to Evict Vulnerable Tenant

A New York City woman, Magdalena Max Avramovich, alleges that her priest used information she shared during a confession to evict her from her rent-stabilized apartment. The civil complaint, filed May 22, details how Avramovich, who has a history of mental health issues, was living in a church-owned apartment for nearly three decades. She renewed her lease last year, which was set to expire in July 2027.

Avramovich, 56, stated in an affidavit that she typically only attends church for major holidays and had not sought confession in years. However, during a psychotic episode in February, she reached out to Father Zivojin Jakovljevic of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, which also serves as her landlord. She met with him on February 10 to seek confession and prayer.

During the session, Avramovich described sobbing and expressing paranoid thoughts about her situation, believing she had done something wrong and needed to leave her apartment. The affidavit states that Father Jakovljevic comforted her but then requested permission to share the information with the church board and her landlord.

On February 14, the church secretary emailed Avramovich a “surrender agreement” to sign, requiring her to vacate the apartment within five days. Avramovich’s attorney described the action as “unconscionable,” “unethical,” and “unlawful.”

Under Eastern Orthodox canonical law, the sacramental seal of confession is inviolable, and a priest who violates it faces excommunication. Jakovljevic and the church board did not respond to requests for comment.

Avramovich moved into her rent-stabilized apartment in February 1998. Rent-stabilized apartments in New York City are highly sought after and offer tenants protections against significant rent increases and eviction. The legal framework surrounding these apartments is designed to ensure stability and security for residents.

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