One of the three candidates for Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Metropolitan Grigol (Berbichashvili), stated that the Synod must act in unity under the leadership of the new Patriarch Shio III. The Metropolitan of Poti and Khobi noted that he expects unity within the Holy Synod and joint work to overcome existing challenges in the Church. According to him, the main message of the day is gratitude to God, as well as a wish for spiritual unity for the flock. “Let us offer gratitude to God—that is the main word of today. And I wish spiritual unity for the flock,” he told reporters. Responding to a question about the main goals of the Catholicos-Patriarch and the challenges facing the GOC (Georgian Orthodox Church), the Metropolitan noted that these questions should be addressed to the new […]
One of the three candidates for Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Metropolitan Grigol (Berbichashvili), stated that the Synod must act in unity under the leadership of the new Patriarch Shio III.
The Metropolitan of Poti and Khobi noted that he expects unity within the Holy Synod and joint work to overcome existing challenges in the Church.
According to him, the main message of the day is gratitude to God, as well as a wish for spiritual unity for the flock.
“Let us offer gratitude to God—that is the main word of today. And I wish spiritual unity for the flock,” he told reporters.
Responding to a question about the main goals of the Catholicos-Patriarch and the challenges facing the GOC, the Metropolitan noted that these questions should be addressed to the new primate of the Church, who must determine the ways to solve them.
“The question of how he sees these challenges and how to confront them should be asked of the new Patriarch,” he said.
In conclusion, Metropolitan Grigol expressed confidence that the Synod will act as one and, under the Patriarch’s leadership, will be able to overcome the difficulties facing the Church.
It should be noted that Shio Mujiri, the Locum Tenens (temporary administrator) of the patriarchal throne, was elected as the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (the 142nd in the country’s history) at the 14th Expanded Assembly in the Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral on May 11, 2026. From this day forward, he is Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III.
Up to 1,200 delegates participated in the expanded assembly. Shio Mujiri received 22 votes, Metropolitan Iov received 9, and Metropolitan Grigol received 7 votes.
The enthronement of the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio Mujiri—Shio III—will take place at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta on May 12. According to church statutes, the solemn ceremony of the new head’s assumption of office in the Georgian Orthodox Church must take place on the first religious holiday following the conclusion of the voting and the election of the new patriarch.
As a reminder, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II passed away on March 17 at the age of 93. From March 18, a civil memorial service was held at the Sameba Cathedral. Thousands of citizens paid their respects to the Georgian Patriarch. Throughout the mourning days, the flow of people wishing to say goodbye to the head of the GOC was continuous, 24 hours a day.
In many cases, citizens had to stand in line for several hours to enter the cathedral. Some had to stay overnight on the grounds of Sameba due to the large flow of parishioners to enter the cathedral by morning.
Ilia II was buried on March 22 in the Sioni Cathedral.
To organize the funeral and ensure security during the mourning days, a state commission was established, headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia, which included members of the government 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.
