His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II chose today, when the Georgian Church is celebrating its greatly-beloved feast of the martyrdom of St. George, to make an historic announcement. Shortly before celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. George-Kashveti in the center of the capital, the primate announced a locum tenens for the patriarchal throne of the Georgian Orthodox Church, according to information from Romfea.
Metropolitan Shio (Mudzhiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsqu’s name was given in the order read out by His Holiness Ilia.
“I congratulate you all with the feast of St. George. It is an historic feast day. St. George wanted us to have a locum tenens, and that is Vladyka Shio. I congratulate Vladyka Shio with this high rank. I hope he will justify the hope rested upon him. May God preserve you,” the patriarch stated, according to 1tv.ge.
