Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze - “Today, a historic page in our national and spiritual life has been turned - the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia has a new leader. I congratulate all of Georgia on the election of the Catholicos-Patriarch!”

This is stated in a statement released by the Prime Minister of Georgia.

According to the Prime Minister, he believes that the leadership of Shio III will serve Georgia’s peaceful, united, and strong future.

“Your Holiness and Beatitude, Shio III, I sincerely congratulate you on being chosen for this highly honorable and highly responsible mission. We believe that you will worthily continue the great spiritual legacy that was created over decades with exceptional wisdom and love by our Holiness and Beatitude, Patriarch Ilia II.

The Mother Church has always been an unshakable pillar of Georgia’s statehood and the spiritual strength of the nation. It is the Orthodox faith that preserved the eternal values that have brought our country to where it is today. I believe that your patriarchal leadership will serve the peaceful, united, and strong future of our homeland.

May God protect our country and its new spiritual father!” Irakli Kobakhidze stated.

The Georgian Church has elected a new Catholicos-Patriarch. The country’s 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch became the locum tenens of the Patriarchal Throne and Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Shio Mujiri. He received 22 votes.

As for the other patriarchal candidates, Metropolitan Iobi received 9 votes, while Metropolitan Grigol received 7 votes. One ballot was annulled.

The Catholicos-Patriarch was elected at the Expanded Church Council.

According to the explanation of the Expanded Church Council, the newly elected Patriarch has been given the name Shio III.