Career
In addition, bishop Nykanor was Nazi prisoner from 1942 to 1943. Bishop Nykanor (his given name was Mykola. Nykanor is his monastic name) was born in Svystilnyky village (now is Svitanok village, Rohatyn Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast) into a peasant family.
In July 15, 1938 he had last monastic vows.
Next year he was ordained as hierodiacon and hieromonk, after successful graduation of the Lviv Theological Seminary and in 1943 was appointed as superior in Saint Joseph Lviv filial monastery. Before this time, in December 11, 1942 he was arrested and imprisoned by Nazi for "anti-Nazi activities".
However, six months later he was released, because the Nazis did not know that the Jews hid in the monastery. In 1951, when in Vladimir Central Prison died as martyr of the faith previous Archimandrite, Father Klymentiy Sheptytsky, Nykanor was elected as his successor.
During this time he clandestinely organized the catacomb theologian seminary.