Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III has received Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with discussions focusing on relations between the two churches and Shio III’s planned visit to Constantinople.
Georgian Patriarchate’s press service says the meeting took place on August 16 and was attended by senior clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Emmanuel conveyed fraternal greetings from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and congratulated Shio III on his enthronement as Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia. The sides discussed the continuation and strengthening of relations between the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Participants also recalled the funeral of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Georgia for the ceremony. Shio III once again expressed gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for his visit and support during that period.
Shio III also recalled the message he received from Bartholomew following his election as patriarch, describing the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s attitude toward the Georgian Church and the memory of Ilia II as particularly warm.
“This is our first face-to-face meeting since my enthronement. We are pleased that your visit today officially represents the Ecumenical Patriarchate, while at the same time, having met so many times before in a friendly atmosphere, this is also a meeting marked by friendship,” Shio III told Metropolitan Emmanuel.
Metropolitan Emmanuel thanked the Georgian patriarch for the warm reception and emphasized the close relationship between the two patriarchates, describing it as part of the legacy left by Ilia II.
“We regard your election as Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia as a very positive development. It will provide a foundation for the continuation of the centuries-old relations between our two churches,” Metropolitan Emmanuel said.
He added that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was looking forward to welcoming Shio III and strongly supported the continuation of close relations between the churches.
Georgian Patriarchate says a significant part of the meeting was devoted to discussing Shio III’s upcoming visit to Constantinople.
At the end of the meeting, Shio III presented gifts to Metropolitan Emmanuel, including a gift intended for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
