Sofia, July 30, 2026
Archimandrite Nicanor presenting a gift to Epiphany Dumenko, whose OCU structure is outside the Orthodox Church. Photo: pomisna.info
His Holiness Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria has suspended Archimandrite Nicanor (Mishkov), who recently concelebrated with clergy of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” and who is known for a generally disobedient and antagonistic stance toward Church hierarchy. He was previously suspended in October 2025.
According to Order No. 134, issued by the Sofia Holy Metropolis on July 28, the suspension was imposed for conduct incompatible with priestly rank and monastic vows of obedience, and for undermining the authority of the Church.
The order doesn’t cite Archimandrite Nicanor’s concelebration with the Ukrainian schismatics on July 12 as grounds for the suspension. At the same time, Pat. Daniil, who serves as his direct episcopal authority as Metropolitan of Sofia, is known to hold a strict Orthodox position on the matter of the schism in Ukraine.
Archimandrite Nicanor is abbot of the Chernogorski Monastery of Sts. Cosmas and Damian the Unmercenary Physicians, near the village of Giginci, Pernik Province, in the Sofia Diocese.
The order followed a petition submitted to the Sofia Holy Metropolis on July 28 by clergy and laity of the Sofia Diocese, who stated that a recent publication by Archimandrite Nicanor undermined the authority of the Bulgarian Church and the dignity of the Bulgarian Patriarch, caused scandal among the faithful, and created a danger of division within the church community. On this basis, an ecclesiastical disciplinary case has been opened against him at the Sofia Diocesan Court.
The Sofia Holy Metropolis imposed on Archimandrite Nicanor the penalty of “argos” — a full prohibition from serving in the priesthood — for 15 days, effective July 29. Three clergy of the Sofia Diocese attempted to deliver the order to him at his monastery but found him absent without his ruling hierarch’s blessing; he was subsequently notified by telephone.
In the relevant publication, Archimandrite Nicanor says he had been summoned by phone to appear before the Patriarch and declared he would not do so.
The Archimandrite in disobedience to his Patriarch has declared that he never wanted to be in the Bulgarian Church, and named various grievances. His final claim is that his Patriarch supports the Russian Special Military Operation, for which he provides no concrete examples, and even calls for Patriarch Daniil—who enjoys the overwheming support of his flock—to step down.
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