Metropolitan Onuphry congratulates Georgian Patriarch Shio on his election

Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III. Photo: Press Service of the Georgian Church

On May 12, 2026, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine sent greetings to the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III.

The Primate of the UOC called the election of the new head of the Georgian Church a living testimony to the high trust placed in him by the episcopate, clergy, and laity. The hierarch stressed that the event marks the assumption of immense responsibility for the purity of the Orthodox faith and the unity of the Church.

His Beatitude Onuphry especially noted the continuity in relations between the two Local Churches. “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church holds the sisterly Georgian Orthodox Church in deep respect for its faithfulness to Holy Orthodoxy, canonical order, and Sacred Tradition,” the Primate said. He expressed confidence that under the new Patriarch, ties between the faithful of Ukraine and Georgia would only continue to develop.

In his message, the Primate of the UOC wished the new Patriarch strength in fostering inter-Church peace. “We express the hope that under the Primacy of Your Holiness and Beatitude, the good and sincere relations between our Churches will continue to be strengthened in a spirit of mutual respect, peace, and love in Christ,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry emphasized.

He recalled that precisely such sincere communion had existed during the wise and blessed ministry of Shio III’s predecessor, the late Patriarch Ilia II.

Concluding his message of congratulations, the archpastor wished the head of the Georgian Church spiritual wisdom and inexhaustible help from God in his ministry. “May your primatial ministry be peaceful, long, blessed, and spiritually fruitful, to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” the Primate wished. He invoked upon the Georgian flock the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a new Patriarch had been elected in Georgia.

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