Bidzina and Ekaterine Ivanishvili offered their congratulations to Metropolitan Shio on his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

As stated in the joint statement by Bidzina and Ekaterine Ivanishvili, it is a responsibility of the greatest historical weight to serve the Church and the country at a time when society stands in particular need of spiritual fortitude, unity, and peace.

“Your Holiness,

We extend our heartfelt congratulations on your election as Catholicos-Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

From this day forth, you are entrusted with an honourable and, at the same time, profoundly responsible mission, to lead our Mother Church and to be the spiritual father of every Orthodox Georgian, of clergy and laity alike.

Your Holiness, it is a responsibility of the greatest historical weight to serve the Church and the country at a time when society stands in particular need of spiritual fortitude, unity, and peace.

This responsibility is all the greater given that you carry forward the path of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, who for half a century, through times of hardship and tempest, guided our people and our country with dignity and grace.

We believe that your ministry will become a foundation of peacefulness, solidarity, and national unity, and will further strengthen the centuries-old traditions and values of the Georgian Church, upon which our national identity rests.

We wish you health, strength, and spiritual fortitude.

May God bless Your Holiness and all of Georgia,” reads the statement by Bidzina and Ekaterina Ivanishvili.

Metropolitan Shio was elected today as Georgia’s new, 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch at the expanded council of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

The enthronement of the new Patriarch will take place on May 12 at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.