New Primate of Georgian Orthodox Church is elected

DECR Communication Service, 11/05/2026

On 11^th May 2026, the Expanded Church Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which took place at the Holy Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral in Tbilisi, elected Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, as the 142^nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

Thirty-nine hierarchs – members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church – took part in the vote. Overall, there were some 1,200 delegates from 47 dioceses participating in the Council.

The enthronement of the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia will take place on 12^th May 2026 in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia.

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Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku (secular name Elizbar Mujiri) was born in Tbilisi on 1^st February 1969.

Having completed three years at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, he entered the Shio-Mgvime Monastery as a novice. On 5^th January 1993, he took monastic vows, in 1995 was ordained hierodeacon, and in 1996 hieromonk. Over the years at the Shio-Mgvime Monastery, he served as refectorian, steward and dean.

In 1999, he took an external degree at the Batumi Seminary and continued his education at the Moscow Theological Academy and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University of the Humanities, which he graduated from in 2005.

From 2001 to 2003, he served as rector of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in Gruziny –the Georgian parish in Moscow.

On 18^th August 2003, he was elected and on 7^th September ordained as Bishop of Senaki and Chkhorotsku.

On 30^th April 2009, he was appointed administrator of the Georgian parishes in Australia and New Zealand.

On 2^nd August 2010, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

From 2010 onwards, he served as a member of the Canonisation Commission of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

At St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University of the Humanities, in 2013 he defended a master’s thesis on The Venerable Alexi (Shushania), Historical Context of His Life and His Spiritual and Pastoral Heritage, and in 2015 a doctoral thesis on The Venerable Alexi (Shushania) of Senaki, Historical Context of His Life and His Spiritual and Pastoral Heritage (Chronological Framework: from 1870s to early 20^th century).

In 2017, he was appointed Patriarchal Locum Tenens.

He accompanied His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia on his visit to the Russian Orthodox Church in 2011.

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New Primate of Georgian Orthodox Church is elected

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