The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has upheld the decision to defrock Archimandrite Dionysius (Mishev), following disciplinary proceedings concerning repeated public insults, defamatory statements against clergy and conduct deemed inappropriate for his ecclesiastical rank.
Meeting on October 2, 2026, the Holy Synod, sitting in its full composition as an ecclesiastical court, examined the case against Archimandrite Dionysius and confirmed the ruling issued by the Sofia Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court on September 1, 2026.
The decision imposes the penalty of deposition from holy orders without excommunication from the Church.
Nine members of the Holy Synod voted in favor of the decision, including Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel and Metropolitans Gregory of Veliko Tarnovo, Ignatius of Pleven, Gabriel of Lovech, Anthony of Western and Central Europe, John of Varna and Veliki Preslav, Seraphim of Nevrokop, Gregory of Vratsa and Pachomius of Vidin.
Four hierarchs voted against the decision and submitted dissenting opinions: Metropolitans Naum of Ruse, Cyprian of Stara Zagora, Jacob of Dorostol and Arseny of Sliven.
Metropolitan Joseph of the USA, Canada and Australia and Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv were absent from the meeting.
According to the ruling, the ecclesiastical court established that Dionysius had repeatedly made public insults and defamatory allegations against members of the clergy and had engaged in conduct incompatible with his ecclesiastical position.
The court concluded that the combined severity of the canonical and statutory offenses, their deliberate nature and the scandal they had caused justified the penalty imposed, leaving no grounds for a more lenient punishment.
Under the ruling, he is prohibited from wearing priestly vestments, celebrating the Divine Liturgy, performing or participating in any church services in a priestly capacity, giving priestly blessings or wearing the distinctive insignia of an archimandrite, including the pectoral cross.
The decision will be published in the Church Gazette and on the Holy Synod’s official website. The other autocephalous Orthodox Churches will also be formally notified.
In its announcement, the Holy Synod emphasized that its decision was guided by the centuries-old tradition of ecclesiastical discipline, whose ultimate purpose is to encourage repentance, correction and spiritual restoration.
The Synod concluded by affirming that the entire Church continues to pray for Dionysius and his repentance.
Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria
