Georgia: The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church has elected Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku as the new Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia following the death of Patriarch Ilia II earlier this year.
The election took place on Monday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, bringing together around 1,200 delegates from different parts of the country. The enthronement ceremony of the new patriarch was held on Tuesday morning at the historic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
The new patriarch, who will take the name Shio III, succeeds Ilia II, one of the most respected religious leaders in Georgia’s modern history, who died on March 17. Before his election, Metropolitan Shio had been serving as locum tenens, temporarily overseeing the Church after the patriarch’s death.
Born in Tbilisi 57 years ago as Elizbar Teimuraz Mujiri, Shio III has had a long journey in both academic and religious life. He studied music and earned a diploma in cello performance from the State Conservatory before entering monastic life. In 1993, he was tonsured as a monk and given the name Shio.
He was later ordained a deacon and then a priest in 1996. After completing theological studies in Moscow, he continued serving the Church in various roles, including abbot, bishop, archbishop, and eventually metropolitan in 2010.
As Catholicos Patriarch, Shio III will also hold the titles of Archbishop of Mtskheta Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Abkhazia and Bichvinta.
Shortly before the election, Shio III spoke about the role of the Church in Georgian society. He said the Georgian Orthodox Church has long been a force for unity and has protected the country’s faith, language, traditions, and historical memory. He added that, with God’s help, the Church would continue along that path.
Messages of congratulations and support quickly followed the announcement of his election.
Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity at the Vatican, praised the spiritual heritage of the Georgian Church and expressed hope that the new patriarch’s leadership would deepen friendship and dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
In his message, Cardinal Koch said he hoped Shio III’s ministry would strengthen charity, unity, and mutual understanding among Christians. He also referred to the Christian call to love one another as Christ loved His followers.
Cardinal Koch had previously travelled to Tbilisi in March as part of a Vatican delegation for the funeral of Ilia II. The funeral liturgy was presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
Earlier, Pope Leo XIV had also written to Metropolitan Shio following the death of Ilia II. In his message, the Pope said he was praying that God would grant wisdom, discernment, and strength to guide the Orthodox Church of Georgia with pastoral care and compassion.
The election of Shio III marks a significant moment for the Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian Churches in the world and an institution that continues to hold deep spiritual and cultural importance in Georgia.