Three Candidates for Patriarch Elected in Georgia

Metropolitan Shio, Metropolitan Iob, and Metropolitan Grigol are the three candidates for the patriarchate elected during the Synod session. After the meeting, the results of the election were announced by Dean (senior priest) Andria Jaghmaidze. According to him, Metropolitan Shio received 20 votes, while the other candidates received 7 votes each.

Currently, there are 39 hierarchs in the Holy Synod, but 38 participated in the voting. According to official information, Metropolitan Zosime (Shioshvili) of Tskaltubo and Dusheti did not participate in the meeting due to health issues.

Following the announcement of the three candidates, the process will be transferred to an expanded ecclesiastical assembly. This assembly will elect the 142nd Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church. According to current regulations, the expanded assembly must be convened by May 17.

It is worth noting that His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, passed away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 93. He led the church in Georgia for 47 years.