Speaker: On 1,700th anniversary of Christianity in Georgia, new Patriarch is chosen, Georgia’s church rejoices
“History continues, and Georgia’s 2,000-year-old Church rejoices” said Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili following the election of Shio III as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia.
“Today, on May 11, 2026, by the will of God, within His two-thousand-year-old Church, on the throne of Saint Andrew the First-Called, and on the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being proclaimed in Georgia, a new Patriarch has been chosen — a worthy hierarch among the worthy.
His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia — may the Lord grant that we refer to the head of the Georgian Church by this title for many years to come. May God’s grace and mercy never depart from him.
The Patriarch’s cross is heavy, and bearing it requires special strength. I congratulate everyone on this greatest historic day. History continues, and Georgia’s 2,000-year-old Church rejoices,” the Speaker stated.
The Georgian Orthodox Church recently elected His Holiness Shio as the 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia.
The bishops cast their votes amongst three candidates. The results of the ballot were as follows: the locum tenens of the Patriarchal throne, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku (Mujiri) received 22 votes; Metropolitan Iobi of Mroveli-Urbnisi (Akiashvili) received nine votes; and Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi (Berbichashvili) received seven votes.