When There Is No Third Option: Facing Difficult Choices with Dignity

By Special Correspondent

"I know. We will suffer one way or another, but we can choose. Either to disappear crawling as Turkish slaves and converts, or to perish as befits human beings. There is no third option."

These resolute words attributed to the time of Tsar Lazar and the Battle of Kosovo capture the essence of moments when fundamental principles cannot be compromised without losing one's very identity. For the faithful of Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland, this historical wisdom has found contemporary relevance in their current struggle.

Moments of Fundamental Choice

Like their ancestors who faced existential threats to their faith and identity, the Saint Sava community has come to recognize their current governance crisis as a moment of fundamental choice. While less dramatic than the historical battlefield, the stakes for their parish's future identity and governance remain significant.

"We've reached a point where middle ground has disappeared," explains a parish council member who requested anonymity. "Either we accept governance practices that violate our bylaws and traditions, or we stand firm for proper procedures even if that means temporary hardship. There is no comfortable third option."

This stark framing reflects the community's growing recognition that some principles—proper parish governance, truthful communication, and faithful stewardship—cannot be partially compromised without being fundamentally abandoned.

Choosing Dignity Over Acquiescence

The Saint Sava community's refusal to allow a visiting priest to administer oaths to a partial board that included controversial appointments represents their choice of dignity over acquiescence.

"We could have simply gone along with the directive to avoid conflict," notes a long-time parishioner. "That would have been easier in the moment. But at what cost to our community's integrity and future? Some compromises amount to surrender of the very principles that define us."

This perspective echoes the historical wisdom about choosing to stand with dignity rather than "disappear crawling." For the parishioners, maintaining their community's governance integrity, even at the cost of temporary discord, represents the only path consistent with their identity as Orthodox Christians and stewards of Serbian heritage.

The Suffering of Either Path

The wisdom in the historical quote acknowledges a crucial truth: "We will suffer one way or another." This recognition that neither path is free from hardship has helped the Saint Sava community approach their situation with clear-eyed realism.

"Whether we acquiesce to improper governance or stand firm for our bylaws and traditions, there will be challenges," acknowledges another parish member. "But only one path preserves our dignity and the principles that make our community what it is."

This acceptance of inevitable difficulty has paradoxically strengthened the community's resolve. Rather than seeking an impossible path free from all hardship, they have focused on choosing the hardship that allows them to maintain their essential character and principles.

Preserving Identity Amidst Pressure

At its core, the historical quote speaks to preserving identity under extreme pressure—refusing to become something fundamentally different even when doing so might offer temporary relief.

For Saint Sava Cathedral, this means maintaining their distinctive Serbian Orthodox traditions and proper governance even when outside pressures push toward compromise. Their appeals to Belgrade represent not rebellion but rather fidelity to their identity and traditions.

"Our parish has preserved Serbian Orthodox faith and culture for generations in America," observes a community member. "That continuation requires not just physical buildings but faithful adherence to proper governance and traditions. Some compromises would effectively surrender what makes us who we are."

Standing with Dignity

As they await word from the Holy Synod in Belgrade, the Saint Sava community continues to conduct themselves with dignity—following proper channels, documenting their concerns, and maintaining respectful communication even in disagreement.

"Whatever the outcome, we want to be able to say we stood for truth and proper order," reflects a parishioner. "That we didn't surrender our principles for temporary comfort or falsely claim peace when fundamental governance issues remained unresolved."

This commitment to dignity regardless of outcome reflects the profound wisdom in choosing to "perish as befits human beings" rather than survive through fundamental compromise of identity. It speaks to a community that understands some values transcend immediate comfort or even short-term harmony.

Editor's note: This article is part of a series exploring the spiritual dimensions of governance challenges facing Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.