The Georgian Orthodox Church will elect its new, 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia today during an expanded church assembly to be held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba Cathedral) in Tbilisi.
By decision of the Holy Synod, three candidates have been nominated for the Patriarchate: the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne and Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Shio (Mujiri); Metropolitan Iobi of the Urbnisi and Ruisi Diocese; and Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi.
Georgian Patriarchate says approximately 1,200 delegates will attend the expanded church assembly, during which the new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church will be elected.
Attendance inside Sameba Cathedral will be permitted only through special invitation lists. However, the Patriarchate stated that anyone wishing to attend the event will be allowed access to the courtyard of the cathedral complex, noting that restrictions apply only to entry inside the cathedral itself.
During the assembly, the Patriarchal candidates will deliver speeches, along with one representative from each of their dioceses. Candidates will be given up to five minutes to address delegates, while diocesan representatives will have a three-minute time limit.
The Patriarchate said the event will be partially televised. The opening of the proceedings, voting process, and final announcement of the results will be broadcast live, while the vote-counting process will remain closed to the public.
Ballot papers will include the names of the three candidates. After marking their preferred candidate, delegates will place their ballot into an envelope and deposit it in a ballot box located in the center of the hall.
Under the regulations governing the Georgian Orthodox Church, a candidate must receive more than 50% of votes cast in the first round to be elected Patriarch outright. If no candidate secures an absolute majority, a second round will be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
The election results will be announced later today by Metropolitan Anania Japaridze, the senior bishop by ordination. The issue of enthronement will also be addressed today, while the date of the enthronement ceremony will be determined by the newly elected Patriarch.
The election follows the death of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, who passed away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 93. His death placed the issue of electing a new Patriarch on the Church’s agenda.
Header image: Sameba Cathedral
Image source: Business Insider Georgia
