Patriarch John X of Antioch congratulated the newly elected Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church Shio III

His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East sent official congratulations to the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III on his election and enthronement. In his message, the head of the Antiochian Church emphasized the importance of the historical succession and expressed hope for the strengthening of pan-Orthodox unity in difficult times for the world.

According to the Orthodoxia News Agency, Patriarch John X noted the deep historical ties that have united the two Churches since the first centuries of Christianity. “We received with joy the news of your accession to the throne of the Georgian Patriarchate as successor to our deceased brother Catholicos Ilia II,” the address reads. The Patriarch recalled that the Antiochian Church, which gave the world the very name “Christians”, has always maintained close and fraternal relations with the Georgian Church, which has preserved the apostolic faith even in the darkest periods of history.

According to the details of the election process, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsk, who served as the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, was elected head of the Church during an expanded Synod at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. He garnered 22 votes out of a possible 39. His candidacy won in competition with Metropolitan Job and Metropolitan Grigori. The solemn enthronement of Patriarch Shio III took place on May 12 at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, after which he celebrated his first Divine Liturgy in the new dignity.

In addition to the Patriarch of Antioch, congratulations were sent to the new Primate by the leaders of other local Orthodox Churches, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarchs Kirill of Moscow, Theodore of Alexandria, Porfiry of Serbia, Daniel of Romania, as well as the heads of the Cypriot, Hellenic, Albanian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. John X concluded his message by wishing the new Catholicos-Patriarch God’s help in his high priestly ministry for the good of the blessed Georgian people.