Georgia has a new patriarch

According to local media, the newly elected patriarch is 57 years old. Before taking monastic vows in 1993, he studied at Tbilisi Conservatory, graduated from Batumi Theological Seminary in 1999, then continued his theological education at Moscow Theological Academy and St. Tikhon Orthodox Humanitarian University.

In 2003, he was elected a bishop by the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, and in 2010 he received the rank of metropolitan.

In 2017, by the decree of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, Metropolitan Shio was appointed deputy of the patriarchal throne.

These elections were organized after the death of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia. he died on March 17 at the age of 93.