The US Embassy in Georgia has extended congratulations to the Georgian Orthodox Church following the election of His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
In a statement, the Embassy described the election as a historic event, noting that it marks the first patriarchal election since Georgia regained independence.
“The United States extends its most heartfelt congratulations to the Georgian Orthodox Church and its faithful on the election of His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia,” the statement reads.
“This is a historic occasion as the first election of a Patriarch since Georgia regained its independence. We wish him great success and look forward to engaging the Georgian Orthodox Church — one of the world’s oldest Christian denominations — on the advancement of our shared cultural and civilizational objectives,” the Embassy added.
Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku was elected as the 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia during an expanded council of the Georgian Orthodox Church held on May 11. He officially assumed the patriarchal throne during an enthronement ceremony at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral on May 12.
Image: 1tv.ge
