The service took place at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, where Metropolitan Shio was enthroned as the 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, succeeding Patriarch Ilia II after nearly half a century of leadership.
Representatives of the Georgian authorities, members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, clergy and thousands of faithful attended the solemn ceremony.
Patriarch Shio III spoke about the immense responsibility of his new ministry and the trust he places in God’s help.
“On this blessed day, standing before you, I thank and glorify the Lord. At the same time, I am filled with reverence and cry out to Him with hope: ‘Show me, O Lord, the way in which I should walk.’”
🇬🇪 Georgia’s Christian roots
His Beatitude also recalled Georgia’s Christian roots, underlining the role of faith in the identity of the Georgian people.
“The Georgian people found their true face and true nature through the living word of the Lord. Throughout the centuries, our country has struggled, suffered and been torn apart, but despite everything, it unites itself, falls and rises again.”
“We must share both the joy and the sorrow of the people, serve them and support them, because the strength of the Church does not lie only in words. Its calling is love in the image of Christ and the bearing of one another’s burdens.”
🇬🇪 “The future of the country is our children”
Referring to contemporary challenges, the new Patriarch of Georgia warned about the cooling of human relationships and the loss of moral landmarks.
“Modern life confronts us with new difficulties. People’s hearts have grown cold and estranged. A thousand temptations replace faith, moral values, family and loved ones.”
“The future of the country is our children. They watch us every day, listen to us and learn from us. They often choose other ways of life, but they remain children. They need our love, care and support more than anything else.”
Speaking about Patriarch Ilia II, who reposed in the Lord in March, Patriarch Shio III said that, as “obedient and loving sons, we are bound to preserve his spiritual legacy and continue his path — the path of service to God, the homeland and humanity”.
🇬🇪 “A worthy servant of the Georgian Church”
At the end of the ceremony, Patriarch Shio III thanked the hierarchs and faithful for the trust they had placed in him.
“I ask you to pray for me and for the future of our Church, that your prayers may give me strength to serve with devotion and humility the Orthodox Church and the blessed Georgian people.”
On behalf of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church, Daniel of Chiatura said that the new Patriarch “demonstrated during his nine years of service as locum tenens the qualities necessary to preserve and strengthen the legacy left by our great father”.
Patriarch Shio III was elected on Monday by the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Patriarch Daniel of Romania sent a congratulatory message to the new Patriarch of Georgia, wishing His Beatitude “many blessed years in the service of the Orthodox people of Georgia and help from God in all your pastoral and missionary activity”.
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