Bp. Spyridon Appointed to ROCOR Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America

Bp. Spyridon of Chicago and Mid-America. Photo: Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary

MUNICH — On Tuesday, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) announced that Bp. Spyridon (Gusakov), previously of Toronto, has been appointed as ruling bishop of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America.

Abp. Gabriel of Montreal and Canada had been serving as locum tenens of the diocese since the repose of Abp. Peter of blessed memory in November of 2024. 

A communique from ROCOR states:

"On Monday, 4 May, in discussing the question of filling the vacant See of Mid-America, the Council of Bishops resolved to release Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada from the administration of the Mid-American Diocese, expressing gratitude to him for his labours, and to appoint His Grace Bishop Spyridon as Bishop of Chicago and Mid-America."

According to the diocese, Bp. Spyridon is the fifth hierarch to assume the title of "Chicago and Mid-America." He was elevated to the rank of archimandrite this past February 8 and consecrated to the episcopacy on February 12.

His Grace immigrated to Canada from Russia in 2001. As a child, he attended services at St. Sergius/Holy Trinity Lavra. Ordained a reader and subdeacon in 2010, he entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville in 2012, graduating in 2016 and subsequently being ordained to the diaconate and tonsured a monastic. In 2018, he was ordained a hieromonk.

Previously, the UOJ reported that ROCOR is officially preparing for the glorification of Fr. Seraphim Rose.

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