Clergy of the Sofia Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church have adopted a declaration expressing support for Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel and condemning the public statements of Archimandrite Nikanor (Mishkov), calling for the preservation of the Church’s canonical unity.

The document was approved during a clergy conference held at the Sofia Metropolitanate dedicated to issues of pastoral ministry. The meeting was chaired by Patriarch Daniel, and participants discussed topics including the practice of the Sacrament of Confession and other aspects of church life, as well as the situation surrounding Archimandrite Nikanor’s public statements.

The declaration, signed by 75 members of the clergy, stated that the archimandrite’s months-long appearances in the media and on social networks have damaged the authority of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, caused confusion among believers, and posed a threat to church unity.

The signatories expressed their full support for Patriarch Daniel and called on the Church court to provide a canonical assessment of Archimandrite Nikanor’s actions.

The dispute between Archimandrite Nikanor and the leadership of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has continued for several years but has intensified in recent weeks. The latest escalation followed the archimandrite’s participation in a liturgical service in Kyiv in mid-July alongside Epiphany Dumenko, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church does not recognize the OCU as a canonical church and has previously stated that there are significant canonical obstacles to such recognition.

Following the Kyiv visit, Patriarch Daniel suspended Archimandrite Nikanor from priestly service for 15 days, a measure known in Orthodox practice as *argos*, and ordered the initiation of church proceedings against him. The stated reasons included actions deemed incompatible with priestly service and monastic vows of obedience, as well as conduct considered damaging to the authority of the Church.

Archimandrite Nikanor rejected the decision of the Church authorities, declined to appear before the Sofia Metropolitanate when summoned, and issued sharp criticism of Patriarch Daniel on social media, including calls for the Patriarch’s resignation. He has also repeatedly accused the leadership of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church of maintaining a pro-Russian position.

The Sofia Metropolitanate stated that such remarks and calls for disobedience are incompatible with priestly responsibilities. The declaration emphasized that church discipline is not intended as a form of punishment or retaliation, but as a spiritual measure aimed at preserving peace within the Church, maintaining canonical order, and encouraging repentance.