The voting process has begun at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), where an extended church assembly is being held to elect the 142nd Patriarch. Before the voting commenced, the ballot box was sealed. During the extended assembly, the three candidates presented their platforms, and delegates also delivered speeches. Regarding the voting procedure itself, three candidates are listed on the ballots: the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsqu; Metropolitan Iov of Urbnisi and Ruisi; and Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi. After choosing a candidate, the ballot is placed in an envelope and dropped into the ballot box located in the central part of the hall. According to the church management regulations, to conclude the voting in the first round and elect the Patriarch […]
The voting process has begun at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), where an extended church assembly is being held to elect the 142nd Patriarch.
Before the voting commenced, the ballot box was sealed.
During the extended assembly, the three candidates have already presented their platforms, and delegates have also delivered speeches.
Regarding the voting procedure itself, three candidates are listed on the ballots:
- The Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsqu;
- Metropolitan Iov of Urbnisi and Ruisi;
- Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi.
After choosing a candidate, the ballot is placed in an envelope and dropped into the ballot box located in the central part of the hall.
According to the church management regulations, to conclude the voting in the first round and elect the Patriarch, a candidate must receive 50% + 1 of the votes. In this case, that is 20 votes.
Accordingly, if one of the candidates for the patriarchal throne receives 20 votes, a second round will not be held.
If none of the candidates receives the required number of votes, a second round will take place between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes.
The results will be announced by the senior-most bishop by consecration, Metropolitan Anania Japaridze, who chairs the vote counting commission.
The date of the enthronement will also be announced today; the decision will be made by the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
As a reminder, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, passed away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 93, after which the election of a new primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) was placed on the agenda.