BOC cleric who served with OCU sought to sway patriarchal election, media

Archimandrite Nikanor, a cleric of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Photo: 24 Chasa

Bulgarian media published a recording of a conversation involving Archimandrite Nikanor (Hristo Mishkov), in which he sought Vatican support for promoting Metropolitan Naum of Ruse to the patriarchal throne of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, reports 24 Chasa.

The conversation with a representative of the Roman Curia took place in March 2024. Archimandrite Nikanor described himself as a “strategist on the campaign team” and outlined what he believed needed to be done to secure Naum’s election. He said the metropolitan was “the best fit for Vatican policy” and was close to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “I’m just a strategist on the campaign team. I say what needs to happen,” the cleric said.

Archimandrite Nikanor proposed using the influence of Bulgarian politicians Boyko Borisov and Delyan Peevski. “The key players here are Borisov and Peevski,” he said. Under his plan, the Vatican would signal to Borisov that it wanted to see Naum elected Patriarch, and Borisov would then exert influence on Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv. The cleric also suggested sending the metropolitan gifts from the Pope. The Vatican representative reacted to the proposal by exclaiming: “Oh my God, Peevski. Good Lord!”

During the conversation, Archimandrite Nikanor also spoke harshly about other Bulgarian hierarchs. Referring to Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa, he said: “He won’t do anything – not with the Vatican, not with the Ukrainians, not with anything. He’s inert.” Nikanor then made compromising allegations against him. 24 Chasa, however, noted that the politicians mentioned had nothing to do with the archimandrite’s initiative and that Metropolitan Naum himself may have been unaware of the efforts to promote his candidacy.

Archimandrite Nikanor’s plan ultimately failed: on June 20, 2024, Metropolitan Naum did not receive a single vote in the selection of candidates for the patriarchal throne. Nikanor had previously concelebrated with representatives of the OCU, while his subsequent public attacks on Patriarch Daniel were condemned by clergy and laity of the Bulgarian Diocese in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The cleric himself denies having taken part in the recorded conversation, but the other participant confirmed to 24 Chasa that the conversation did take place.

As the UOJ reported, a Bulgarian theologian previously commented on the suspension of the cleric who had concelebrated with the OCU.

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