His Eminence Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku was elected Patriarch of Georgia on Monday, becoming the 142nd primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
According to Georgian media, His Eminence received 22 of 39 votes. The other two candidates — Metropolitan Iobi of Urbnisi and Ruisi received 9 votes, while Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi received 7 votes; one vote was annulled.
The metropolitan had served as locum tenens following the repose of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia.
The new primate of the Georgian Church will bear the name His Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III.
The enthronement of the new Patriarch of Georgia will take place on Tuesday at 10:00 local time at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
Biography
Patriarch Shio III, baptised Elizbar Mujiri, was born on 1 February 1969 in Tbilisi. After graduating from Secondary School No. 53 in Tbilisi — while also studying at a music institution — he continued his education at the city’s State Conservatory.
In 1991, Elizbar Mujiri entered Shiomgvime Monastery as a brother. On 5 February 1993, he was tonsured a monk and received the name Shio. He was first appointed trapezarius of the monastery and later economos.
In 1995, he was ordained hierodeacon, and in 1996, he was ordained hieromonk by His Beatitude Ilia II. In 1997, Hieromonk Shio was appointed abbot of the Church of Saint George in the Kldisubani district of Tbilisi.
On 18 August 2003, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church elected Abbot Shio as bishop of the newly established Diocese of Senaki and Chkhorotsku. On 7 September, at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, his episcopal consecration took place, officiated by Patriarch Ilia II together with members of the Holy Synod.
Photo: sazu.ge
