Shio Mujiri, the locum tenens (acting head) of the late Patriarch Ilia II, has been elected as the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (the 142nd in the country’s history) during an expanded assembly at the Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral. Up to 1,200 delegates participated in the expanded assembly. These included not only representatives of the clergy from dioceses, monasteries, seminaries, and theological academies but also delegates from academic circles. 22 clergymen voted for Shio Mujiri. The 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio (born Elizbar Mujiri), was born in Tbilisi in 1969 (57 years old). He was the youngest of the three candidates. Back in 2017, amid his declining health, Ilia II appointed him as the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne. Since then […]
Shio Mujiri, the locum tenens of the late Patriarch Ilia II, has been elected as the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (the 142nd in the country’s history) during an expanded assembly at the Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral.
Up to 1,200 delegates participated in the expanded assembly. These included not only representatives of the clergy from dioceses, monasteries, seminaries, and theological academies but also delegates from academic circles.
22 clergymen voted for Shio Mujiri.
The 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio (born Elizbar Mujiri), was born in Tbilisi in 1969 (57 years old). He was the youngest of the three candidates. Back in 2017, amid his declining health, Ilia II appointed him as the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne. Since then, the Metropolitan’s influence within the church hierarchy has grown significantly.
Speaking at the expanded church council in Sameba, Metropolitan Shio stated that the Georgian Orthodox Church must maintain its historical role as a unifying force and a guardian of national identity.
“Today we stand before a historic event – against the backdrop of the storms of modern life, vast historical experience, and the service of God-chosen individuals, our choice is especially responsible before God and the people. But at the same time, this duty gives us strength and hope that with God’s help, the Georgian Orthodox Church, which has always been a unifying force for the people, the guardian of the true faith, the Georgian language, traditions, and historical memory, will continue to follow this path in the future,” he noted.
On April 28, the Holy Synod of the GOC (Georgian Orthodox Church) identified three candidates for the patriarchal throne from among six proposed names:
- Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) — he received 20 votes;
- Metropolitan Iov (Akiashvili) — 7 votes;
- Metropolitan Grigol (Berbichashvili) — 7 votes.
The status of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II in Georgia was exceptionally high. Therefore, the election of a new head of the GOC signifies not only the selection of a religious leader but also a figure of great social and moral influence. Consequently, these elections attract attention not only from believers but also from political and social circles.
The Synod has named three candidates for the post of the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
As a reminder, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II passed away on March 17 at the age of 93. From March 18, a lying-in-state was held at the Sameba Cathedral. Thousands of citizens paid their respects to the Georgian Patriarch. Throughout the mourning period, a continuous stream of people wishing to bid farewell to the head of the GOC flowed 24 hours a day.
In many cases, citizens had to wait in line for several hours to enter the cathedral. Some had to stay overnight on the grounds of Sameba due to the large influx of parishioners to gain entry by morning.
Ilia II was buried on March 22 in the Sioni Cathedral.
To organize the funeral and ensure security during the mourning period, a state commission was established, headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia and including government members and three representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Ilia II was elected Catholicos-Patriarch on December 23, 1977. His Holiness’s enthronement took place on December 25, 1977.