Who is Shio Mujiri, new head of Georgian Orthodox Church? | VIDEO

Biography of Georgia’s new patriarch

Shio Mujiri has become the new Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia after receiving 22 votes at an expanded church assembly on 11 May.

His election marks the end of nearly 50 years under Ilia II and opens a new chapter for the Georgian Orthodox Church — one of the country’s most influential institutions.

Attention is now focused not only on church succession, but also on the new patriarch’s background, including his time in Moscow, his views on Russian church influence, Ukrainian autocephaly and political developments within Georgia.

Georgian Orthodox Church succession battle: leading contenders, Moscow's shadow and fight for power

The main frontrunner is the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri.

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Biography of Georgia’s new patriarch