JORDANVILLE, NY: 12 February 2026
On the feast day of the Three Holy Hierarchs, the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad celebrated Divine Liturgy and performs the consecration of Archimandrite Spyridon (Gusakov) as Vicar of the Canadian Diocese

On Thursday, 12 February, 2026, the feast day of the Three Holy Hierarchs, St Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian and St John Chrysostom, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral at the eponymous monastery in Jordanville, NY. Holy Trinity Seminary, located on site, celebrates its heavenly patrons on this day.

Joining the Metropolitan was His Eminence His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, His Grace Bishop Kliment of Levski (Bulgarian Orthodox Church) and His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse, His Grace Bishop Jerome, along with Archimandrite Michael (Crowley), nominated to be Bishop of Boston and Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese. They were joined by the monastic fathers, seminary instructors and visiting clergymen.

During the usual time of Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Spyridon (Gusakov) was consecrated to the episcopacy.

After the end of divine services, the Primate offered words of advice to the new Bishop of Toronto and entrusted him with the episcopal staff.

As part of tradition, the newly-consecrated bishop delivered a sermon and offered his first archpastoral blessing to those in attendance.

The following is Metropolitan Nicholas’ sermon:

Your Grace, Bishop Spyridon, beloved brother in the Lord!

God’s grace, which overshadowed you today in the Sacrament of hierarchal consecration, has placed you as bishop over the God-preserved city of Toronto. Through the laying on of hands and the prayers of the successors of the Apostles, you too have received the Apostolic gift.

Henceforth, you are called to 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. You have received the right to attend to the salvation of the human race: to teach, to guide, and to spiritually nourish the clergy and confirm the laity in the Faith of Christ.

Throughout the course of many years, God’s most-wise Providence prepared you for this glorious event, trying the resolution of your faith and obedience during the time of your service as rector of the Church of the Holy Hierarch John, Archbishop of Shanghai and Wonderworker of San Francisco, in the city of Calgary. There you 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.

Saint John of Shanghai understood the episcopacy not as an honor, but as a difficult obedience to the Church and as a cross demanding total commitment. The holy hierarch himself was an example of ascetic endurance and a strict life, often spending entire nights in prayer.

For him, the episcopacy meant serving the people: in China, Europe, and America; it meant care for the spiritual condition of every one of his children, and not administrative authority. By his personal example, Saint John showed that the bishop is the “servant of all” and that his life must be entirely dedicated to God and man.

Understand you likewise the episcopacy that has been given to you. And He Who today gives you the obedience of archpastor will also unfailingly grant you the strength to fulfill it.

And remember: nothing is fearful for him puts his hope in God. Pray as though you are speaking directly to God, to the Most Holy Theotokos, to the angels and saints. In purity of heart, make your fervent prayer for the peace of the whole world and the good estate of the Holy Churches of God, and call on your flock to live in all piety and purity, to labor with love, humility, and spiritual joy, and to be an example to their neighbors.

Kindle the grace-filled gift you have received, perfecting yourself in love, which “suffereth long… is kind… envieth not… seeketh not its own, is not easily provoked… beareth all things… endureth all things” (I Corinthians 13:4-5,7).

Let even that which seems trifling, yet concerns your service as a vicar bishop, escape not your archpastoral gaze. I sincerely hope to find in you a good and faithful fellow laborer in Canada.

Remember your predecessors in the Canadian Diocese: Bishop Alexander (Nemolovsky), who together with the great Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky) took part in the work of the 1923 Pan-Orthodox Congress, after which he moved to the Russian Skete of Saint Andrew on Mount Athos; Archbishop Joasaph (Skorodumov), who is honored in our Church as a great ascetic laborer and man of prayer in Canadian Rus’; Bishop Sava (Saračević), a fellow initiate and biographer of Saint John’s; Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), who labored over the course of many years in that country; Archbishop Gabriel, who currently governs the diocese, as well as Metropolitan Hilarion, who was born in Canada not far from the place of your parochial service.

Embark now with spiritual joy on the labors in Christ’s Vineyard, where there is much to be done, and many laborers are summoned.

Receive this staff as a support in the archpastoral service entrusted to you, and bless God’s people, who have prayerfully taken part in your hierarchal consecration.