The Patriarchate of Georgia denied rumors about setting a date for the election of a new primate

The Georgian Orthodox Church has officially denied reports that a specific date has been set for an expanded church council to elect a new Patriarch. Representatives of the clergy urged believers not to fall for provocations and trust only official sources, warning against spreading misinformation aimed at undermining the unity of the Church.

According to Orthodoxia News Agency, the press service of the Holy Synod issued a clarification in response to inaccurate publications in the media and social networks. Head of the Public Relations Service of the Patriarchate of Georgia, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, emphasized that a special meeting to determine the date of the council is not planned at the moment, but the event itself should take place no later than May 17.

The process of preparation for the election of the successor to the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, who headed the Church for almost half a century, is in an active phase. At the moment, a list of three candidates has been formed: Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chhorotsk, Metropolitan Job of Ruthenia and Urbnisi, and Metropolitan Grigori of Poti and Khoba.

The upcoming council will have the status of an expanded council, as it will be attended by about 2,000 delegates. In addition to the members of the Synod, representatives of all dioceses, monasteries, higher theological schools, as well as laymen will have the right to vote. According to the procedure, if one of the candidates receives more than 20 votes (at the synodal selection stage), he can be approved in the first round, otherwise a second round is held between the two voting leaders on the same day.