Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria congratulated the newly elected Primate of the Georgian Church Patriarch Shio III

Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria sent official congratulations to the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III on the occasion of his election and enthronement as the 142nd Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church. According to the Greek Orthodoxia News Agency, His Holiness expressed confidence that Orthodoxy has found a worthy and wise spiritual leader in the person of the new Patriarch.

In his message, the Primate of the Bulgarian Church noted the outstanding spiritual legacy of the late Patriarch Ilia II, emphasizing that Shio III is his worthy successor. «We believe that in your person God has granted the Holy Georgian Orthodox Church a leader who will continue to develop the works of his predecessor with zeal and zeal, faithfully following his precepts and example, » the text of the address reads. Patriarch Daniel wished the new Primate good health and gracious strength for a long and fruitful service on the throne of St. Andrew the Apostle.

Special attention in the congratulatory message was paid to the centuries-old bonds of brotherhood between the Bulgarian and Georgian Churches. Patriarch Daniel expressed the hope that these ties will continue to be strengthened for the sake of the well-being of both Orthodox peoples. In the context of the modern era, which he characterized as «complex and critical», His Holiness stressed the need for unity and joint witness to Christ in order to overcome any trials.

An official delegation of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, including Metropolitan John of Varna and Velikopreslavl and Metropolitan Gregory of Vrachanski, visited Tbilisi to participate in the celebrations. The Bulgarian hierarchs took part in the first Divine Liturgy celebrated by Patriarch Shio III at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, which this year coincided with the national holiday, the Day of the Sanctity of the Family in Georgia.