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# Bp. Spyridon Appointed to ROCOR Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/87065-bp-spyridon-appointed-to-rocor-diocese-of-chicago-and-mid-america/
- Published: 2026-05-05T20:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T06:38:34.000Z
- Description: In an announcement sharing the details of its deliberations in Munich, ROCOR's Council of Bishops announced that the Mid-America See has a new ruling bishop.
- Author: Aaron Hickman
- Tags: #Category: News, ROCOR, Mid-America Diocese, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, Bp. Spyridon of Chicago and Mid-America

**MUNICH —** On Tuesday, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) [announced](https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2026/20260505%5Fencommunique.html) 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](https://uoj.news/news/86441-rocor-consecrates-new-bishop-for-its-canadian-diocese/) 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](https://uoj.news/news/87064-breaking-rocor-officially-preparing-for-glorification-of-fr-seraphim-rose/) that ROCOR is officially preparing for the glorification of Fr. Seraphim Rose.