Who will lead Georgian Orthodox Church after Ilia II's death?

Following the death of Ilia II at the age of 93, leadership of the Georgian Orthodox Church will temporarily pass to Shio Mujiri, who has been designated as locum tenens, according to Georgian media reports cited by Caliber.Az.

Metropolitan Shio is expected to formally assume his duties immediately after the late Patriarch’s will is opened.

In the church hierarchy, the locum tenens is a senior cleric entrusted with temporarily carrying out the responsibilities of the Patriarch during the transitional period.

Shio Mujiri was appointed to this role during the lifetime of Ilia II. Under the current arrangement, if the Patriarch’s will does not designate a different locum tenens, and if the document is not subject to canonical challenge at the Holy Synod, he will continue to serve as the acting head of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

He is expected to remain in this position until a new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia is formally elected in accordance with church procedures.

By Tamilla Hasanova