Georgia outlines new patriarch election procedure following Ilia II’s death

The body of Patriarch Ilia II lies in the Georgian Patriarchate building. Photo: UOJ Georgia

Following the death of Georgian Orthodox Church Primate Patriarch Ilia II – who led the Church since 1977 – attention has turned to the process for selecting his successor.

According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists in Georgia, citing the Church’s official charter on administration, the locum tenens of the Patriarchal throne is required to convene an expanded Church Council no earlier than 40 days and no later than two months after the Patriarch’s death.

Ahead of the council, the Holy Synod will meet to nominate candidates. Each Synod member may put forward one nominee, including himself. The three bishops receiving the highest number of votes will then be presented to the expanded council as official candidates.

The Church sets strict eligibility requirements for candidates. A prospective Patriarch must be ethnically Georgian, a bishop of the Georgian Orthodox Church, possess formal theological education, and have substantial experience in church governance. Candidates must also be monastics between the ages of 40 and 70.

Only bishops are eligible to vote in the Patriarchal election. A candidate must receive more than half of the votes cast by the bishops present at the council to be elected. If no candidate secures a majority in the first round, a second round is held between the two leading candidates.

The procedure is defined by the Church’s Statute on Administration, adopted during the 13th Expanded Church Council held at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral on September 18–19, 1995.

Until a new Patriarch is elected, the Church is governed by the locum tenens. Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) has held this role since November 23, 2017, when he was appointed due to Patriarch Ilia II’s declining health.

March 18 has been declared a national day of mourning in Georgia.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Patriarch Ilia II passed away on March 17, 2026.

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