“The Holy Synod’s meeting today will select three patriarchal candidates. The candidate for patriarch will be revealed at the extended sitting,” said Andria Jaghmaidze, Head of the Public Relations Service of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC).

According to Jaghmaidze, the extended sitting, at which the Patriarch will be elected, must be held by May 17.

“We have not finalized the exact date, but it should be held no later than May 17. We can hold discussions over the date later. As for the criteria, we read that the candidate must be Georgian by nationality. He should be no younger than 40 and no older than 70, and the outstanding candidate must also have a higher theological education and be a monk.

I am not a mathematician, and no later than 70 means that we do not have additional days or months. Let us see that the Holy Synod decides. Another issue is that the Holy Synod cannot change the church regulations and should strictly guide by them.

Any issue can be subject to interpretation; for example, what does Georgian mean? I had a friend, a Yazidi, and he was a very good Georgian. If we think like that, then everything can be questioned. The concept of a monk can also be interpreted in different ways. I think it is very important for the life of the church that the rules that are set are respected,” he said.