Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder and honorary chairman of the “Georgian Dream” (Kartuli Otsneba) party, is attending the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, where the enthronement of the new Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III is taking place. Government representatives and members of the cabinet are also present at the ceremony. The divine service at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in connection with the enthronement began at 10:00 AM. 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 at the Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral on May 11, 2026. From that day, he became Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III. Up to 1,200 delegates participated in the expanded assembly. Shio Mujiri received 22 votes, Metropolitan […]
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder and honorary chairman of the “Georgian Dream” party, is attending the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, where the enthronement of the new Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III is taking place.
Government representatives and members of the cabinet are also present at the ceremony.
The divine service at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in connection with the enthronement began at 10:00 AM.
It should be noted that Shio Mujiri, the Locum Tenens 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 at the Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral on May 11, 2026. From that day, he became 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 for the new head to assume 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. Starting March 18, a public wake was held at the Sameba Cathedral. Thousands of citizens paid their respects to the Georgian Patriarch. Throughout the mourning period, the flow of people wishing to say goodbye to the head of the GOC continued 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 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 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.