“We wish Shio III, the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, success in carrying out the most important mission of spiritually strengthening the nation,” the party “For Georgia” said in a statement.

According to the party, they believe that the Georgian Church will remain a pillar of peace, solidarity, and national unity.

“We congratulate Georgia and the Georgian Orthodox Church on the election of a new Catholicos-Patriarch. We wish Shio III, the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, success in fulfilling the most important mission of spiritually strengthening the nation. We believe that the Georgian Church will remain a pillar of peace, solidarity, and national unity,” the statement reads.

The Georgian Church has elected a new Catholicos-Patriarch. The country’s 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch has become the locum tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku. Bishop Shio received 22 votes. As for the other patriarchal candidates, Metropolitan Iob of the Urbnisi and Ruisi Diocese received 9 votes, while Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi received 7 votes. One vote was annulled.

The Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia was elected at an expanded Church Council. According to the explanation of the expanded Church Council, the newly elected Patriarch will bear the name Shio III.

“The head of the Holy Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia is His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, our great father Shio III - Axios!” declared the chairman of the vote-counting commission, Bishop Anania Japaridze, after announcing the voting results.