Patriarch Daniel Confronted by Archimandrite Nikanor Over Church Dispute

Archimandrite Nikanor released an official statement refusing to meet Patriarch Daniel after being invited by the deputy bishop of the Sofia Metropolitanate. He warned that he will not appear at the metropolitan building on Kaloyan Street while the patriarch is present.

Nikanor recalled the 2004 armed raid on his monastery that forced its incorporation into the canonical synod, an event he says led to Bulgaria’s condemnation at Strasbourg. He linked the current tension to the church’s involvement in education policy and alleged support for the Russian patriarch, portraying the church as an enemy of the people.

The statement revives the legacy of the 2004 split between the official Holy Synod and the “alternative synod” headed by Metropolitan Inokentiy, underscoring ongoing divisions within the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.