Bishop Spyridon of Chicago & Mid-America
Bishop Spyridon, born Sergey Valentinovich Gusakov on May 25, 1959, in the city of Kropotkin, Krasnodar Region, Russia, into a military family. He was baptized in July, 1959, with the name Sergiy in the city of Kropotkino. From childhood, he attended services at St Sergius/Holy Trinity Lavra. In 1988, he entered Zaporizhiye State University, which he graduated from in 1993, and after graduation, he worked until 2001 in the administration of the Zaporizhiye Ship Repair and Shipbuilding Plant.
In September 7, 2001, he immigrated to Canada. His first church in Canada for several years was Holy Trinity Church in Vancouver. After moving to Canada, he began to consider leaving worldly affairs behind and growing in spiritual life. A particularly significant influence on him was a meeting in 2006 at Holy Trinity Lavra with Archimandrite Naum (Baiborodin), who became his spiritual mentor and blessed him on the path of monasticism and priesthood.
Since 2008, he began regularly attending services and serving in the altar of St Nicholas Cathedral in Montreal, Canada. From 2009, he started regularly visiting the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. In November 2010, he was ordained as a reader and subdeacon. In 2012, he entered the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, which he graduated from in 2016. On November 20, 2016, he was ordained to the rank of deacon. In December of the same year, he was tonsured a monk. On August 26, 2018, he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk.
On Thursday, February 12, 2026 on the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, his episcopal ordination as Bishop of Toronto, vicar of the Canadian Diocese, was performed at the Holy Trinity Monastery. On Monday, 4 May, 2026 he was appointed as Bishop of Chicago and Mid-America.
Interim Rector Fr. Micah Chisholm
Father Micah was born on the east side of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the fourth of seven children born to his parents. The future Father Micah began his collegiate studies at Northern Michigan University pursuing a degree in Sports Medicine (2004). Upon sensing a call to Christian ministry he transferred to Asbury University and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies (2007). Following a three year period engaged in full time youth and music ministry in the United Methodist Church, he attended Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA and began to learn more about the historic Christian faith. He wed Stephanie Selle (of Pinconning, MI) on October 2, 2010.
After completing a Master of Arts degree in Church History (2012), he was ordained a deacon and then priest in the Anglican Church in North America and served All Saints Anglican Church in Springfield, MO for two years (2012-2014). While serving All Saints, the seeds sown while studying Church History in seminary blossomed with the discovery of the Orthodox Church. Following a period of discernment and catechesis, Micah was released from his ministry in the Anglican Church and he and his growing family were received into the Holy Orthodox Church on July 2, 2014 (The Feast of St. John of San Francisco) at St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church in Springfield, MO.
Father Micah and his family returned to Michigan where he completed post-graduate studies in chaplaincy, bereavement care and crisis management. Father Micah currently works as the Social Services Coordinator for the Salvation Army Social Services Office of Cadillac, MI, assisting families in crisis throughout a three county service area.
In June of 2020 Father Micah completed the Diploma in Pastoral Theology from the Orthodox Pastoral School sponsored by the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America (ROCOR).
He was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Peter, the diocesan bishop, on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 19/6 2020) and ordained to the priesthood on the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God (August 28/15, 2020) at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, Il. Father Micah is assigned as the priest in charge of St. Sebastian Orthodox Christian Church.
Joining him in life and ministry are Matushka Stephanie and their six children: Miriam, Joel, Esther, Simeon, Ezra and Naomi. They reside just outside of Mesick, MI where they are building a small hobby farm and enjoying the beauty of God's creation.
Serving Priest Fr. Dmitri Mihaliov
Father Dmitri was born and baptized in New York City and moved frequently in his youth before his family settled down in Lee, Maine. In his youth he became interested in the study of the physical world, which led to him earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2018. He continued his education by enrolling in a program for a Doctorate in Applied Physics also at the University of Michigan, which he completed in December 2025.
It was in his studies that he came to develop a deep appreciation of the intricacies of the physical world and developed a longing to glorify its Creator. During his graduate studies, he started to pursue a Diploma in Pastoral Theology from the Orthodox Pastoral School sponsored by the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America (ROCOR). Meanwhile, he served at the St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church in Dexter, Michigan. It is at St. Vladimir that has was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Peter, the diocesan bishop, on the Feast of the Prophet Micah (August 27/14) in 2022 and ordained to the priesthood on the same feast, one year later in 2023.
Father Dmitri is currently assigned as the serving priest of St. Ambrose Orthodox Christian Church. Alongside him are Matushka Dr. Katherine and his children Simeon, Nina, and Theoden.