Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I has extended his congratulations to His Holiness Shio III on his election and enthronement as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

In a statement issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarch expressed his warmest wishes, praying that Shio III’s ministry be long, blessed, and fruitful.

“With great joy, we have received, both personally and together with all those serving at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the glad news of the worthy election of Your beloved Beatitude to the ancient and renowned Catholicos- Patriarchal Throne of All Georgia, in succession to the late and ever-memorable Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, who rendered luminous and historic service to the venerable Church of Georgia and to the whole of Orthodoxy.

Glorifying the Lord, the Founder and Sustainer of His Church, we fraternally congratulate Your Beatitude, and we pray that you may be granted a long, blessed, and fruitful Primatial ministry, for the glory of God, for the good of your devout flock, for peace and stability among the Georgian people, and for the advancement, in harmonious cooperation with us and with the other Primates of the sister Orthodox Churches, of pan-Orthodox unity, collaboration, and common witness before the world. Acios!” reads the letter from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to His Holiness Shio III.