The expanded council of the Georgian Orthodox Church has convened at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba Cathedral) in Tbilisi to elect Georgia’s new Catholicos-Patriarch.
The proceedings opened with a memorial requiem service for the repose of the soul of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.
Reception of guests and delegates at the cathedral began at 10:00 and continued until 12:00, after which the expanded church council formally commenced.
Georgian Patriarchate says nearly 1,200 delegates are attending the session. The assembly will include speeches by the candidates for the Patriarchal throne, as well as addresses by delegates representing various eparchies. A scholar will also deliver a historical overview on the title and significance of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia.
The candidates for the Patriarchate are the locum tenens of the Patriarchal throne and Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Shio (Mujiri); Metropolitan Iobi of the Mroveli-Urbnisi Diocese (Akiashvili); and Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi (Berbichashvili).
Under Church regulations, only bishops are entitled to vote in the election of the Catholicos-Patriarch. A candidate who secures more than half of the votes cast by participating bishops — in this case, at least 20 votes — will be elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
Georgia’s 141st Catholicos-Patriarch, Ilia II, passed away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 93, after leading the Georgian Orthodox Church for nearly five decades.
Image source: 1TV
