ROCOR Synod Elects New Vicar Bishops, Transfers Bp. Theodosius from Seattle to Manhattan

ROCOR Synod of Bishops. Photo: synod.com

NEW YORK — The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) has issued a formal decree addressing the replenishment of the episcopate, including the appointment of a new Bishop of Manhattan and the election of additional vicars across North America.

At its session held on Tuesday, November 26/December 9, 2025, the Synod resolved to appoint Bishop Theodosius of Seattle as vicar of the Eastern American Diocese with the title Bishop of Manhattan.

The Synod also elected Protopriest Michael Crowley, a cleric of the Eastern American Diocese, as Bishop of Boston; Hieromonk Spyridon (Gusakov) of the Canadian Diocese as Bishop of Toronto; and Hieromonk Peter (Karakozov) of the Western American Diocese as Bishop of Seattle.

Fr. Michael currently serves as dean of New England and is rector of St. Xenia Church in Methuen, Massachusetts, and will be tonsured into monasticism; Hieromonk Spyridon is the rector of the Church of St. John Shanghai and San Francisco in Alberta, Calgary; and Hieromonk Peter is a cleric of San Francisco’s Old Cathedral of the Holy Virgin.  

In accordance with the Act of Canonical Communion, the Synod resolved to submit a petition for confirmation of these episcopal elections to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. The ROC approved the nominees at its session today, December 26, 2025.

The timing and location of the episcopal consecrations are to be determined at the discretion of the President of the Synod of Bishops, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of ROCOR.

Previously, UOJ reported on a speech given by Bishop Theodosius at the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action.

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