“I am aware, on the one hand, of the greatness and honor of this calling, and on the other hand, of my human weakness and inadequacy,” said Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Tskhum-Abkhazia, His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III.

He thanked the bishops and the Georgian people.

“It is difficult for me at this moment to express before you my spiritual state, thoughts, and feelings. This is both a great honor and a heavy cross. First of all, I give thanks to Almighty God for this great mercy that He has bestowed. I thank the Most Holy Mother of God, the assembly of saints of the Orthodox Church, Saint Shio of Mgvime, Saint Alexi of Senaki - patron of the Senaki and Chkhorotsku Diocese - and other holy figures for their help and protection.

I thank the bishops of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church for the immense trust they have shown toward me. I also thank every person who worked tirelessly to ensure the dignified conduct of today’s assembly, all delegates, and guests. Special thanks to the Georgian people for their love, prayers, and support.

I would also like to thank the clergy and parishioners of the Senaki and Chkhorotsku Diocese for the love they have shown and for the years spent together in the service of God and the Church. It is a great grace and mercy of God, and at the same time, the cross and responsibility of shepherding is heavy.

It is impossible to fully comprehend God’s providence and intention or answer why God willed to grant such great grace and service. I understand both the greatness and honor of this calling and my own human weakness and insufficiency. I place my service under the mercy of the Lord, the Most Holy Mother of God, the saints, the prayers of our predecessor Catholicos-Patriarchs, especially the prayers of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, as well as the prayers and love of the Georgian people.

I ask you to pray for me, to pray for the future of our Church, so that through unity, love, and peace we may glorify the Lord and worthily continue our service for the good of the Church and the nation,” Shio III stated.

The Georgian Orthodox Church has elected a new Catholicos-Patriarch. The country’s 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch became Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne and Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Shio (Mujiri), who received 22 votes.

As for the other candidates:

• Metropolitan Iobi of the Urbnisi and Ruisi Diocese received 9 votes;
• Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi received 7 votes.

One ballot was invalidated.

The Catholicos-Patriarch was elected at the expanded ecclesiastical assembly of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

According to the expanded assembly, the newly elected Patriarch has taken the name Shio III.

“His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, Great Lord, our Father Shio III - Axios!” declared Metropolitan Anania Japaridze, chair of the vote-counting commission, after announcing the voting results.