In 1974 the Portuguese Orthodox Mission was transformed Portuguese Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and Archimandrite John (Rocha) was appointed bishop of the Exarchate administrator. In 1976, Portuguese Exarchate received official state registration and was named "Orthodox Catholic Church of Portugal".
In 1975 he was appointed Episcopal Administrator to PortugalDespite the very positive results of the portugal mission, having been part of the Episcopal Council activities of His Eminence Archbishop [[Archimandrite John (da Rocha) did not find approval from his ruling bishop - Anthony (Bartoshevich) of Geneva]], . This fact has prompted Archimandrite John to a change of Archimandrite John ecclesiastical jurisdiction. He was received by baptism and re-ordination into the Old Calendar "florinite" Synod of the Russian Church of Greece True Orthodox Church Abroad since 1968Christians, led by "Archbishop of Athens and All Greece" Auxentius (Pastras).
June 17, 1978, Archimandrite John tonsured the great schema with name Gabriel.