Jordanville, New York, February 16, 2026
Photo: Gerik Fon-Revutzky
On Sunday, February 15, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia consecrated Archimandrite Michael (Crowley) as Bishop of Boston, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, during the Divine Liturgy at the cathedral of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.
The service, which fell on Meatfare Sunday and the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of ROCOR. He was joined by His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Their Graces Bishop Luke of Syracuse and Spyridon of Toronto, along with monastic and visiting clergy, ROCOR reports.
Bishop Michael was elected to the episcopacy by the ROCOR Synod in December, together with Hieromonk Spyridon (Gusakov), who was consecrated to the episcopacy on February 12.
Following the episcopal ordination, Met. Nicholas presented Bp. Michael with the episcopal staff and the newly consecrated bishop gave his first archpastoral blessing to the faithful.
Bp. Michael had previously served for almost 25 years at the Church of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Methuen, Massachusetts, and for 10 years led the New England Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese.
In his address, Met. Nicholas acknowledged the weight of episcopal service, telling the new bishop: “Is it easy to bear responsibility for hundreds and thousands of human souls? From your pastoral experience you already know how difficult this is.”
The Metropolitan urged Bp. Michael to approach his ministry with love, quoting the Apostle Paul: “Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.”
He reminded the new bishop of his dual responsibilities: continuing missionary work among Americans while also serving ethnic communities with “patience, discretion, and prudence,” helping them “preserve the liturgical language and traditions of the Church Abroad, set down by our forebears.”
Met. Nicholas invoked the memory of previous Bishops of Boston—Constantine (Essensky) and Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky)—as well as Metropolitans Vitaly, Laurus, and Hilarion, telling Bp. Michael: “Cherish their memory, preserve their precepts and legacy, unite yourself to their spirit, pray for them and ask their prayerful intercession in your labors.”
Watch the Liturgy and consecration:
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