The Patriarchate of Georgia has announced that the names of the candidates for the position of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia will be released on April 28.
A meeting of the Holy Synod is scheduled to take place at the Patriarchate at 12:00 PM.
According to the reports, three candidates for the patriarchal throne will be presented during this session.
It is worth noting that Metropolitan (Vladyka) Shio Mujiri, who is currently serving as the Locum Tenens (temporary acting head) of the patriarchal throne, is likely to be named as one of the three candidates from whom the Holy Synod will elect the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
Ilia II named Metropolitan Shio as his Locum Tenens during his lifetime, nine years ago. The Synod confirmed the archbishop in this position for a period of two months—until the election of the new head of the GOC (Georgian Orthodox Church).
The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, passed away late on the evening of March 17 at the age of 93. Since March 18, his lying-in-state was held at the Sameba Cathedral. Thousands of citizens paid their respects to His Holiness. Ilia II was buried in the Sioni Cathedral of the Patriarchate on March 22.