The session of the Holy Synod at the Patriarchate of Georgia has concluded. At the session, members of the Synod selected three patriarchal candidates from six nominees.

The candidates for the Patriarchal Throne are: the Locum Tenens of the Catholicos-Patriarch’s throne, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku (Mujiri); Metropolitan Iobi of Mroveli-Urbneli (Akiashvili); and Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi (Berbichashvili).

Following a secret ballot, the votes were distributed as follows: Shio, Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal throne, received 20 votes, while the remaining two candidates each received 7.

Additionally, Andria Jaghmaidze, Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church’s Public Relations Department, stated that potential candidates included Bishop Grigol Katsia of Tsalka, Bishop Dositheos of Belgium and the Netherlands, and Bishop Melkhisedek of Margveti and Ubisa.

From among these three candidates, the Patriarch will ultimately be elected by an expanded Church Council by secret ballot.

Only bishops may participate in the vote to elect the Catholicos-Patriarch at the expanded Council. The candidate who receives more than half of the votes cast by the bishops present will be deemed elected as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

The expanded Church Council is to be convened no later than May 17.