Tbilisi holds elections for the 142nd Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church

A historic event is taking place in Tbilisi today — an expanded Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which will elect a new, 142nd Primate. The election is taking place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), where the expanded Synod will determine the successor to the blessedly departed Patriarch Ilia II.

According to Orthodoxia News Agency, three candidates are vying for the throne: Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chhorotskuia, Metropolitan Job of Ruthenia and Urbnisi, and Metropolitan Grigori of Poti and Khoba. According to the regulations, in order to win in the first round, a candidate needs to get more than 50% of votes (minimum 20). If this does not happen, a second round will be held, in which the two candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected.

Despite the fact that more than 1200 delegates representing dioceses and monasteries are participating in the Council, only 39 bishops of the Georgian Orthodox Church have the right to vote, according to the Statute. The official announcement of the voting results is entrusted to Metropolitan Anania of Manglis and Tetritskaroi, who heads the counting commission.

Head of the Public Relations Service of the Georgian Patriarchate Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze emphasized that for security reasons the use of cell phones in the cathedral is strictly limited. The election process is being covered by Georgian state television in a partial format: the opening session, the voting procedure itself and the final announcement of the name of the new Patriarch are being broadcast live, while the vote count is being held in closed mode.

For the many believers gathered in the courtyard of the cathedral, a live broadcast on external screens was organized. It is expected that the date of the solemn enthronement of the newly elected Primate will be known immediately after the completion of the election procedures.