In his first sermon following his election, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, called on the faithful to pray for him and the future of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC). The new head of the GOC stated that the support and prayers of the congregation would help him worthily fulfill his service. According to Shio III, he intends to serve the Orthodox Church and the Georgian people with loyalty and humility. “I ask you to pray for me and for the future of our church, because your prayers will give me the strength to serve the Orthodox Church and the God-blessed Georgian people with devotion and humility,” the Patriarch declared. The Patriarch of All Georgia also expressed hope for the unity of believers and urged the congregation to grow stronger in faith and […]
In his first sermon following his election, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, called on the faithful to pray for him and the future of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The new head of the GOC stated that the support and prayers of the congregation would help him worthily fulfill his service.
According to Shio III, he intends to serve the Orthodox Church and the Georgian people with loyalty and humility.
“I ask you to pray for me and for the future of our church, because your prayers will give me the strength to serve the Orthodox Church and the God-blessed Georgian people with devotion and humility,” the Patriarch declared.
The Patriarch of All Georgia also expressed hope for the unity of believers and urged the congregation to grow stronger in faith and love.
US Embassy: Election of the New Patriarch is a Historic Event
It should be noted that the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, took place at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. “Axios!”, “Axios!” echoed through the temple, which translates from Greek as “Worthy!”.
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 cowl, the pectoral cross-panagia, and the staff.
The former Locum Tenens (acting head) of the patriarchal throne, Shio Mujiri — now Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III — 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.
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 — took 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 very first religious holiday following the conclusion of the vote 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, a continuous stream of people wishing to say farewell to the head of the GOC flowed 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 in order 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 and including 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.
