Mikheil Kavelashvili: Your Holiness and Beatitude, I extend my deepest respect and reverence in congratulating you on your election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia; the emergence of a new spiritual leader for our Church is an event of immense national and spiritual importance
According to him, the role of the Catholicos-Patriarch in fostering peace, love, and mutual respect in society is immeasurable.
“This is a moment of great national and spiritual significance for our Church, as it is directly connected to the spiritual life, unity, and centuries-old traditions of our homeland and people.
I believe that under your leadership, the Georgian Orthodox Church will be further strengthened. The role of the Catholicos-Patriarch in establishing peace, love, and mutual respect in society is immense. I am confident that your ministry will be based on these values.
Your Holiness, I wish you a fruitful and God-blessed service. May your ministry become the foundation of many good deeds for our Church, our homeland, and every citizen. I sincerely wish you to worthily continue the legacy of the main pillar of the nation, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.
May God protect you and all of Georgia!” Mikheil Kavelashvili wrote.
The Georgian Church 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, who received 22 votes.
As for the other 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, and the newly elected Patriarch was given the name Shio III.
