The Sofia Holy Metropolis announced that Archimandrite Nikanor (Hristo) Hristov Mishkov, Abbot of the Tsarnogorski Monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian near the village of Gigintsi, has been suspended from priestly ministry for 15 days.
According to the announcement, the sanction was imposed by order of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel, who also serves as Metropolitan of Sofia, on July 28, 2026.
The Metropolis stated that the measure was imposed over conduct deemed incompatible with the priestly office and monastic vows of obedience, as well as conduct considered to undermine the authority of the Church. Citing Articles 95(19) and 139(2) of the Statute of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church–Bulgarian Patriarchate, Archimandrite Nikanor was placed under an “argos,” or complete prohibition from performing priestly ministry, for 15 days beginning July 29.
The Sofia Metropolis further reported that three clerics of the diocese attempted to deliver the order to Archimandrite Nikanor at the monastery where he serves as abbot. However, he was found to be absent from the monastery without the blessing of his diocesan Metropolitan. He was subsequently informed of the disciplinary measure by telephone.
The Metropolis said that the order had been made public for the information of the Church and the wider public.
It also announced that ecclesiastical disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Archimandrite Nikanor. The case, registered as Ecclesiastical Disciplinary Case No. 2/2026 before the Sofia Diocesan Court, was opened pursuant to Articles 81 and 95(18) of the Statute of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Article 12 of the Rules of Procedure governing the Church’s ecclesiastical courts.
Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria
