Shio III stated that he is fully aware of the responsibility and weight of the patriarchal service. The new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia said this during his first sermon after his election. According to the Patriarch, it is impossible for a human to fully comprehend God’s plan and answer why this high service was entrusted to him specifically. “I am aware of the honor, greatness, and weight of this service,” Shio III noted. The Catholicos-Patriarch also emphasized that he now clearly realizes how difficult the path of his predecessor, Ilia II, was. Shio III stated that he considers it his duty to protect the spiritual legacy of Ilia II and continue the path of serving God, the homeland, and the people. In his sermon […]
Shio III stated that he is fully aware of the responsibility and weight of the patriarchal service. The new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia said this during his first sermon after his election.
According to the Patriarch, it is impossible for a human to fully comprehend God’s plan and answer why this high service was entrusted to him specifically.
“I am aware of the honor, greatness, and weight of this service,” Shio III noted.
The Catholicos-Patriarch also emphasized that he now clearly realizes how difficult the path of his predecessor, Ilia II, was.
Shio III stated that he considers it his duty to protect the spiritual legacy of Ilia II and continue the path of serving God, the homeland, and the people. In his sermon, the Patriarch called for strengthening faith, maintaining unity and peace in society, and serving the church and the country with love.
The new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church thanked the members of the Holy Synod, the clergy, and the faithful for their trust, support, and prayers during the period of electing the new Patriarch.
Shio III delivered his first sermon as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
Notably, the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, took place at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. “Axios!”, “Axios!” echoed in the temple, which means “Worthy!” in Greek.
During the solemn ceremony of ascending the patriarchal throne, the new patriarch was presented with the symbols of authority — specifically, the patriarchal mitre, as well as the headpiece, the cross-panagia, and the staff.
Shio Mujiri, the locum tenens (acting head) 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 that day, he is known as 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 inauguration in the Georgian Orthodox Church must take place on the first religious holiday after the conclusion of 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 days of mourning, the flow of people wishing to say farewell 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 days of mourning, a state commission was established, headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia and including members of the government and three representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The commission also managed access to the services.
Ilia II was elected Catholicos-Patriarch on December 23, 1977. His Holiness’s enthronement took place on December 25, 1977.
