Imedi /  11 May 2026, 16:12 / Reliable source

Metropolitan Shio elected as new Patriarch of Georgian Orthodox Church

Metropolitan Shio has been elected as the new Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church during an expanded Holy Synod session held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi.

The closed-door session of the Georgian Orthodox Church’s expanded council began at 1:00 p.m. Clergy members voted among three candidates: Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Shio, Metropolitan Iob, and Metropolitan Grigol.

According to the voting results, Metropolitan Shio received 22 votes, Metropolitan Iob secured 9 votes, while Metropolitan Grigol received 7 votes.

The election marks a significant moment for the Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the country’s most influential institutions.

All News

11 May 2026, 17:36

Society

Ivanishvili family congratulates newly elected Georgian Patriarch, emphasises unity and peace

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and his spouse Ekaterina Ivanishvili on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III, emphasising the historic importance and responsibility of his new role.

11 May 2026, 17:23

Society

Georgian Parliament Speaker: By God’s will, new Patriarch was chosen on the 1 700th anniversary of Christianity in Georgia

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday celebrated the election of His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, emphasising the spiritual and historical significance of this moment.

11 May 2026, 17:07

Society

Georgian President wishes God-blessed ministry to Patriarch Shio III

Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili on Monday congratulated Metropolitan Shio on his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

11 May 2026, 16:58

Society

“A great honour and a heavy cross” - Patriarch Shio III delivers emotional first address after election

The newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III on Monday delivered his first address at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, saying it was difficult for him to express his spiritual emotions at this moment.

11 May 2026, 16:50

Society

Georgian PM congratulates Shio III on election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday congratulated Shio III on his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, stating that a historic page was turned in the history of the national and spiritual life.

11 May 2026, 16:47

Society

New Patriarch’s enthronement to be held on May 12

The enthronement ceremony of the new Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia will take place on Tuesday, announced on Monday His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi Shio III.

Photo: Parliament of Georgia

11 May 2026, 15:28

Politics

Georgian Parliament Speaker highlights “national identity, traditional family values, Christian heritage” as guiding principles on path toward EU integration

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said he was pleased to visit Slovakia together with the Georgian parliamentary delegation and emphasised the importance of deepening parliamentary cooperation between the two countries following a meeting with the speaker of the Slovak Parliament Richard Raši.

Shalva Papuashvili Richard Raši

11 May 2026, 15:13

Foreign policy

Georgian, Slovak Parliament Speakers discuss cooperation, EU integration

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday met with the chair of the National Council of Slovakia Richard Raši.

11 May 2026, 13:43

Society

Expanded Church Council convenes in Tbilisi to elect new Patriarch of Georgia

An expanded church council is underway at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi to elect the new Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia following the death of Ilia II.

11 May 2026, 11:23

Justice

Foreign citizen arrested for attempting to smuggle large quantities of drugs into Georgia

The officers of the Adjara main division of the central criminal police department under Georgia’s ministry of internal affairs, together with employees of the customs department of the revenue service under the ministry of finance, have arrested a Turkish citizen on charges of illegally purchasing, possessing, and importing large and especially large quantities of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances into Georgia.

Maka Botchorishvili

10 May 2026, 22:45

Politics

Georgian FM says Ukraine’s engagement reflects Georgia’s role in regional connectivity needs

Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili commented on the recent meeting between Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place on the sidelines of the 8th European Political Community Summit.

Irmhild Boßdorf

10 May 2026, 22:17

Politics

MEP Irmhild Boßdorf slams proposed sanctions against Imedi TV as “violation of freedom of speech”

German MEP Irmhild Boßdorf on Sunday voiced strong opposition to the proposed sanctions against the Georgian television station Imedi TV, calling the move “inconceivable” and a clear sign that freedom of speech is being applied selectively by European institutions.

10 May 2026, 21:58

Politics

MEP Rasa Juknevičienė declines to provide evidence for sanctions against Imedi TV, citing need for “preparation”

Lithuanian Member of the European Parliament Rasa Juknevičienė has declined to provide specific examples of disinformation to justify her calls for sanctioning the Georgian television station Imedi TV.

Tomasz Froelich

10 May 2026, 21:50

Politics

MEP Tomasz Froelich slams proposed sanctions against Imedi TV as "double standards"

European Parliament member Tomasz Froelich on Sunday criticised proposals to sanction Georgian television channel Imedi, calling the initiative “double standards” and suggesting it is driven by broader geopolitical decisions made in Brussels.

Shalva Papuashvili

10 May 2026, 19:25

Politics

Georgian Parliament Speaker: outdated Georgia data on German Foreign Office website “attack on sovereignty”

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday criticised the German foreign ministry’s failure to update official information about Georgia’s leadership on its website.

Shalva Papuashvili

10 May 2026, 19:08

Politics

“Georgian society is eagerly waiting for him to leave” - Georgian Parliament Speaker slams German Ambassador

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday sharply criticised Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, saying he appears to have “a problem not only with the Vienna Convention, but also with politeness”.

Shalva Papuashvili

10 May 2026, 18:51

Politics

Georgian Parliament Speaker: EU must stop creating “enemy image” of Georgia

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday called on European Union officials to carefully reflect on his recent letter, emphasising that a shift in rhetoric is essential for the benefit of both the EU and bilateral relations.

Andria Jagmaidze

10 May 2026, 18:36

Society

Georgia’s Orthodox Church to elect new Catholicos-Patriarch tomorrow

Georgia’s Orthodox Church will have a new Catholicos-Patriarch tomorrow, said on Sunday Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze.

Levan Machavariani

10 May 2026, 12:24

Politics

Georgia’s ruling party official: Tbilisi expects “specific steps” from Kyiv to repair bilateral relations

Levan Machavariani, the first deputy chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Saturday said Georgia expects Ukraine to take “specific steps” to address past actions that damaged relations between the two countries.