Georgian Church Synod to present three candidates for Patriarchal throne
The Georgian Patriarchate. Photo: orthodoxie.com
The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church will present three candidates for the Patriarchal throne, from among whom the new Primate will then be elected. As reported by the Patriarchate's press service, the Synod session will take place on April 28, 2026, in Tbilisi.
The hierarchs will determine three bishops who receive the most votes and will be nominated as candidates.
After this, the list of candidates will be submitted for consideration to the Extended Council, which will elect the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
According to the Statute of the Georgian Church, a candidate must be a bishop, have theological education, experience in church administration, be a citizen of Georgia, a monk, and be 40-70 aged.
The election of the new Primate has special significance, as it will be the first in almost half a century after the long service of the late Patriarch Ilia II, who headed the Church for 49 years.
The election procedure takes place in several stages and is regulated by the Statute adopted in 1995, which defines the voting procedure and requirements for candidates.
Earlier, the UOJ described in detail the procedure for electing a new Patriarch in Georgia.
Read also
Zelensky says 9.5M Ukrainians expected to return home from abroad
Zelensky stated that 9.5 million Ukrainians who left abroad are expected to return home to rebuild the country.
German theologian criticizes Ukrainian authorities' pressure on UOC
German theologian Regina Elsner has said that pressure from the authorities on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church places an additional heavy burden on believers during the war.
Poland bans entry to Lviv official over SS Galicia and UPA glorification
Polish Foreign Minister initiates entry ban on Lviv Regional Council deputy who proposed declaring 2027 the Year of the UPA.
OCU award winners stage provocations at UOC court hearings, media report
Rallies outside courts hearing UOC cases are organized by activists who received awards from Dumenko.
Khust Eparchy priest who shot people in Vyshkovo banned from ministry
The Khust Eparchy of the UOC has notified police that it has banned from ministry a priest suspected of killing three people in Vyshkovo, Transcarpathia.
Metropolitan Onuphry congratulates Georgia on 1,700 years of Christianity
The Primate of the UOC sent a message to Patriarch Shio III on the anniversary of Christianity becoming the state religion in Georgia.