"I must give my vote to the Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio. I know what kind of relationship he had with the Patriarch, and I know how His Holiness used to resolve issues through Metropolitan Shio. Metropolitan Shio has never done anything arbitrarily on his own, and this is very important to me," – said Metropolitan Stephane of Chkondidi, who is also the Metropolitan of the Tsageri and Lentekhi Eparchy, during his sermon at the St. Nicholas Monastery for Men in the village of Zanati, Abasha Municipality.

According to him, he "trusts His Holiness and his chosen person."

"From the very beginning, I say that I support the Locum Tenens chosen by His Holiness. This is what I think: we must give our vote to the Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio. This is my position. I don’t need any interviews with anyone; I have already said this, and I will not give any interviews on this topic...

I trust His Holiness, I trust his chosen person. For 9 years, Metropolitan Shio has been serving our Church under the leadership of His Holiness. I know what kind of relationship he had with him, and I know how His Holiness resolved issues through Metropolitan Shio. Metropolitan Shio has never acted arbitrarily, and this is very important to me. It would be a problem for me only if he had done something against the word of His Holiness. I see his loyalty, I see all the love he has shown towards His Holiness, and of course, I do not allow any other option in my decision. As for what others will do, I cannot answer for them," – noted Metropolitan Stephane.

In addition, Metropolitan Stephane responded to the statement of Metropolitan Nikoloz of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo, who had said that "no one should sit on the throne of Ilia II – we must leave this throne to him."

As Metropolitan Stephane notes, "We have no throne to preserve."

"What should we preserve?! There is the Patriarch’s throne, on which every Patriarch must sit. It must be treated with reverence. Whoever sits on it must treat it with reverence. Not that we put it aside and wrap a belt (zonari) around it saying 'the Patriarch sat here.' We will have a Patriarch. As long as there is life in this country, we must have a Patriarch. We have no throne to preserve. That throne should be treated as a relic, and at the same time, an honorable successor must sit on that throne," – the Metropolitan emphasized.

For information: The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, passed away on March 17. From March 18, his civil funeral was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Thousands of citizens paid tribute to the memory of His Holiness. Ilia II was buried on March 22 at Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral.