Shio III ascends to patriarchal throne in Georgia after Synod vote

Metropolitan Shio III has officially ascended to the patriarchal throne of the Georgian Orthodox Church, following his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, according to a TASS correspondent.

The enthronement ceremony took place at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, where clergy confirmed that Shio III has formally assumed the role of Patriarch of Georgia.

The election itself was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church. More than a thousand delegates from various dioceses, including clergy and lay representatives, attended the assembly. However, voting rights were limited to the 39 members of the Holy Synod.

The results were announced by Metropolitan Anania (Japaridze), chairman of the counting commission, following an extended church assembly. Some delegates greeted the outcome with applause. Shio III responded modestly, stating: “I accept my election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia with humility, by the grace of God and with hope.”

He now holds the full title of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia.

To secure victory in the first round, a candidate needed at least 20 votes from bishops. Shio III, who had been serving as locum tenens—the temporary head of the Church pending the election—received 22 votes.

The other candidates, Metropolitan Iob (Akiashvili) and Metropolitan Grigol (Berbichashvili), received nine and seven votes, respectively.

Shio III was elected on the 55th day following the death of Ilia II, a deeply revered figure in modern Georgian history. Having become patriarch during the Soviet era, Ilia II remained a key moral authority whose views were respected by political leaders and widely trusted by society during times of political crisis and transformation.

By Tamilla Hasanova