On 11 May 2026, following the death of Catolichos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II of Georgia, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church held an election to choose a successor. Shio III of Georgi
Shio Mujiri 2026
Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi in 2018
The state funeral procession of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II through the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia.
Ilia II of Georgia
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Ilia II was the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia from 1977 until his death in 2026. He was the longest serving patriarch in the history of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which spans more than a mill
2026 Georgian patriarchal election
…On 11 May 2026, following the death of Catolichos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II of Georgia, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church held an election to choose a successor. Shio III of Georgia won with 22 votes and ascended to the post…
Ilia II in 2004
Ilia II as patriarch, 21 December 2007.
Ilia II (left) with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, 14 December 2012
Ilia II meets Russian President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, 23 January 2013.