Patriarch Daniel of Romania congratulated the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia on his election

on May 11, 2026, a new stage began in the history of the Georgian Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku was elected the 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. In connection with this event, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania sent an official congratulation to the newly elected Primate, wishing him divine help in his upcoming ministry.

According to Orthodoxia News Agency, the election took place during an extended session of the Holy Synod. Vladyka Shio, who had previously served as Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, now officially heads one of the oldest Orthodox Churches in the world, opening a new chapter in its spiritual life.

In his message, Patriarch Daniel of Romania, on behalf of the Holy Synod, the clergy and all the faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Church, wished the new Primate «many and blessed years» of pastoral labor. His Beatitude emphasized the importance of the new mission and offered prayers that the Lord would grant Patriarch Shio the spiritual strength to accomplish his missionary and pastoral work for the benefit of the Georgian Orthodox people.