Opinion: “Protesters” Are Smearing Faithful Parishioners at Saint Sava

I wanted to tone down the scholarly style from my previous posts, because I know not everyone likes to read in that “style”. What follows is just one example of the personal attacks coming from some of the "protesters." I could write much more about this, and maybe I will later. For now, I am asking you to read this with a clear head and think honestly about what is happening in our parish.

Over the last few weeks, the way some people talk about each other at Saint Sava has gone way off track. Instead of calm conversations and working things out in the right way, we see public accusations, half-truths, personal insults, and social media drama. This is aimed not only at clergy and diocesan leaders, but also at regular parishioners by name. That is not normal parish life. It is toxic, and it needs to stop.

One of the people most unfairly attacked is Mrs. Stanka Nikolic or just Baba Stanka. She is not a politician. She is the president of the Kolo Srpskih Sestara (KSS) at Saint Sava and a real church mother. She works where almost no one gets praise: in the kitchen, in the hall, and behind the scenes. She runs the kitchen like a pro chef. She has cooked meals, organized gatherings for Slava, weddings, and the festival, welcomed visitors, and helped create that warm, family feeling so many of us talk about when we say we "love our church."

Let’s be honest: to turn around and treat a woman like this as some kind of enemy in a power struggle is deeply wrong. On a basic human level, it is ungrateful. Spiritually, it is dangerous. Scripture and the Church are very clear about slander and false witness. When we tear down the good name of an Orthodox Christian, especially an older woman who has poured her time and strength into the Church, we are not "defending the parish." We are attacking the unity of the Body of Christ.

This is why I am calling for an end to the personal attacks on Stanka Nikolic, and on any parishioner who is simply trying to do his or her job in the parish. No one should be mocked, shouted at, SPIT at, or humiliated for serving the Church, whether in person or online. If someone has a real concern, the right way is simple, speak directly, respectfully, not by posting on Facebook or theatrically inventing charges against people.

We can disagree about many things. That happens in every parish. But we do not have the right to destroy people’s reputations because they do not fit into someone’s protest narrative or because someone was banned from running for board president. So I am asking all of us, starting with myself, to step back from reckless words, stand up for the people who have served faithfully, and act like we actually believe the faith we confess every Sunday at Saint Sava.

Please SHARE to spread the truth, and stop the animosity!