Jordanville, New York, February 13, 2026
Newly consecrated Bp. Spyridon gives his first hierarchical blessing. Photo: Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary
On February 12, the feast day of the Three Holy Hierarchs, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia consecrated Archimandrite Spyridon (Gusakov) as vicar bishop of the Canadian Diocese. The consecration took place during Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Jordanville, NY, celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of ROCOR.
The newly consecrated Bishop Spyridon had been elected to this position by the ROCOR Holy Synod in December. He previously served as rector of the Church of the St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco in Calgary, Alberta.
The hierarchal consecration was concelebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada and Their Graces Bishop Kliment of Levski (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Bishop Jerome, and Archimandrite Michael (Crowley), who has been nominated as Bishop of Boston. Monastic fathers, seminary instructors and visiting clergy also participated in the service.
Photo: Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary
Following the consecration, Met. Nicholas delivered a sermon in which he charged the new bishop with his duties and offered guidance for his episcopal ministry. He noted that Bp. Spyridon would now “administer the vicariate of the Canadian Diocese, to proclaim the Gospel, and through the prayer of the Church to call down God’s grace and blessing upon the faithful.”
The Metropolitan praised Bishop Spyridon’s years of service in Calgary, where he “labored much for the glory of Christ the Savior, of Christ’s Holy Church, and for the sake of your flock: you served, preached, comforted, and spiritually guided, you led pilgrimages with your flock to the Orthodox churches and monasteries of America and to the holy places of Europe.”
Drawing on the example of St. John of Shanghai, Met. Nicholas emphasized that “the episcopacy meant serving the people” and “care for the spiritual condition of every one of his children, and not administrative authority.” He urged Bp. Spyridon to “understand you likewise the episcopacy that has been given to you.”
After the sermon, Met. Nicholas entrusted Bp. Spyridon with the episcopal staff. The newly consecrated bishop then delivered a sermon and offered his first archpastoral blessing to those in attendance.
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