On April 3, the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church convened to deliberate on the nomination process for the three candidates for the patriarchal throne and other technical election issues. There was no consensus among the metropolitans regarding whether the election should adhere to the existing candidate requirements in the statute or if those could be altered. Georgia lacks a tradition of electing its Church head freely, as Patriarch Ilia was elected during the totalitarian communist regime in 1977. Russian foreign intelligence has suggested that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew intends to “influence” the elections with favored candidates — the Western European Abraham (Garmelia) and Metropolitan of Poti Grigory (Berbichashvili).
Under the Georgian Church statute, a patriarchal candidate should be between 40 and 70 years old, with 30 of the 39 Synod members meeting this criterion. Bishops have yet to decide on the necessity of compliance with this age restriction. The statute mandates theological education, though it does not specify the level; however, the metropolitans have considered retaining “at least a seminary” as a requirement.
Thirty Synod members have higher education. Seven members’ educational backgrounds are unclear, and 14 bishops lack theological education. Most received education in seminaries and academies in Russia and Georgia. Only three bishops — Metropolitans Melchizedek (Khachidze), Sava (Intskirveli), and Zenon (Yarajali) — studied in Europe.
Two bishops have musical training — Shio (Mujiri) and Anton (Buluhiya). Three attended the Theater Institute — Daniel (Datuashvili), Nikoloz (Pachuashvili), and Isaiah (Chanturia). Joseph (Kikvadze) and Ekvitime (Lezhava) graduated from the Academy of Arts. Mamuka (Gabrididze), now the Bishop of Tianeti, was previously a guitarist in the rock band “Memento Mori.”
Nine bishops graduated from the Polytechnic University, and three from the Pedagogical Institute. Andria (Gvazava) has a military background, having attended the Military Aviation Engineering Institute in Kharkov. Georgian media reports that eight metropolitans served in the Soviet Army, including Yegudiel (Tabatadze) in the GDR army (1982-1984) and Vakhtang (Liparteliani) in the Abkhazia conflict.
The Synod’s diverse composition raises the debate on maintaining a theological education requirement at least at the seminary or academy level for elections.
Three metropolitans quickly transitioned from monasticism to episcopacy — Tkibuli’s Giorgi (Shalamberidze) (1988), Tsurgava’s Vakhtang (Akhvlediani) (1982), and Shalteli’s Spiridon (Abuladze) (2006). The locum tenens, Metropolitan Shio, and Ephraim (Gamrekeli) have long monastic experiences before ordination. The vicar, Metropolitan Grigory Berbicashvili, and Metropolitan Job Akiashvili have significant support within the electoral council. Metropolitan Andria Gvazava, who only recently obtained theological education by defending a dissertation at the Russian Orthodox University “St. Tikhon” in 2023, is another potential candidate.
Unofficially, the patriarch must be acceptable to both the Georgian government and the Russian Church. Shio (Mujiri), having chaired the St. George Church of the Georgian community in Moscow and studied theology there, currently meets these criteria.
Over the past decade, leaked information about Patriarch Ilia’s possible successor has permeated Georgian public discourse. This prompted Patriarch Ilia to appoint Metropolitan Shio Mujiri as his successor, although this process is unprovided by the statute or Georgian tradition. Supporters of Metropolitan Shio Mujiri encourage other candidates to relinquish their aspirations in his favor, branding non-compliance as betrayal to the late patriarch’s will. While Metropolitan Shio Mujiri is a prime candidate, his election is not guaranteed.
The Holy Synod has set up election commissions and designated the Holy Trinity Cathedral as the election venue. The three candidates will be announced at the upcoming Holy Synod meeting in late April, likely on April 24.
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