Bulgarian cleric who concelebrated with OCU has his suspension extended
Archimandrite Nikanor with Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: Archimandrite Nikanor’s Facebook page
On August 10, 2026, Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria suspended Archimandrite Nikanor (Mishkov) from performing divine services. The Bulgarian Church restricted the cleric's rights due to the ongoing legal proceedings against him.
The new ecclesiastical suspension (“argos”) will take effect on August 13, 2026, thereby extending the previous disciplinary measure.
The Sofia Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court is currently handling Case No. 2/2026 against Archimandrite Nikanor. The ecclesiastical judges are examining the cleric’s alleged violations under Article 95, paragraph 19, and Article 139, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Bulgarian Church – actions deemed incompatible with the priestly rank and monastic vows of obedience, as well as actions undermining the authority of the Church.
Previously, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Church had already published its position regarding the archimandrite. As the UOJ reported, the hierarchs condemned the cleric's offensive statements and slander against Patriarch Daniil.
Read also
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.
DESS official says state should not govern the Church
A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.
Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor
A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.