Russia hopes to improve relations with Georgia's new patriarch
The 57-year-old Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) has been elected the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and has taken the name Shio III.
His enthronement took place on May 12, 2026, at the historic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta following the death of the long-serving primate Ilia II, who passed away on March 17 at the age of 93.
The election of the new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) caused a significant stir both within Georgia and beyond its borders.
In the Russian Federation, there is no hiding the hope for deeper cooperation with Tbilisi under the new patriarch, who is considered a conservative hierarch with close ties to Russian church circles.
Immediately after the enthronement ceremony, Dmitry Olisov, head of the Russian Federation’s interests section at the Swiss Embassy in Georgia, addressed Shio III.
The Russian diplomat expressed hope that the patriarchal ministry of the newly elected primate would contribute to strengthening the “traditionally trusting ties between the sister churches of Russia and Georgia.”
The election took place in an expanded format with the participation of about 1,200 delegates, but only 39 members of the Holy Synod had the right to vote.
Shiho III won a decisive victory, receiving 22 votes and beating his rivals—Metropolitans Ioba Akiashvili and Grigol Berbichashvili.
The figure of Shio III remains a subject of heated debate among experts and the opposition in Georgia.
Many openly call him a “pro-Russian” hierarch, pointing to his background: the future patriarch was educated at the Moscow Theological Academy and defended his dissertation in Russia.
Moreover, in the past, Shio III served for a long time as the rector of a Georgian church in Moscow.
He is also linked by friendly ties to businessman Levan Vasadze, known for his conservative stance and connections to the political circles of the aggressor country.
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