Tbilisi (GBC) - The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church has selected three candidates for the Patriarch.
The candidates are: Locum Tenens of Catholicos-Patriarch, Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku Shio (Mujiri); Metropolitan of Mroveli-Urbneli Iobi (Akiashvili); and Metropolitan of Poti and Khobi Grigoli (Berbichashvili).
The Synod selected three candidates from a total of six nominees. According to the results of the secret ballot, Metropolitan Shio received 20 votes, while Metropolitans Iobi and Grigoli received seven votes each.
As Senior Deacon Andria Jagmaidze, Public Relations Officer of the Patriarchate, told journalists, the other candidates were Bishop Grigol Katsia, Bishop Dositeos, and Bishop Melchizedek.
"Today's Synod has ended. As always, the Synod's resolution will be read out later by the Synod Secretary. Today, the Patriarchal candidates were selected. Three candidates were selected: the enthroned Shio, Bishop Job, and Bishop Grigol. Subsequently, as you know, the vote between these three candidates will be held at an expanded session, where the result of the vote will already show us who the future Patriarch will be. The date is not yet known. As for who received how many votes, the enthroned Patriarch received 20 votes, the other two candidates received 7 votes each. Bishop Grigol Katsia, Bishop Dositheos, and Bishop Melkisedek were also nominated as candidates. The main principle issue that was to be resolved at today's session was that the entries in the Management-Board Regulation be strictly implemented, and the Synod was guided by this," Jagmaidze told journalists.