Georgian Orthodox Church to consider patriarchal candidates at synod meeting

A session of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church is set to take place today at the Patriarchate, where senior clerics are expected to select three candidates for the position of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 12:00 local time. Each member of the Synod has the right to nominate one candidate, including themselves. From these nominations, three bishops who receive the most votes will be put forward to an enlarged church council as official candidates.

According to church regulations, the Catholicos-Patriarch must be an ethnic Georgian, a bishop of the Georgian Orthodox Church, a monk, and possess theological education and sufficient administrative experience. Candidates must be between 40 and 70 years old.

The final decision will be taken at an enlarged council composed exclusively of bishops. To be elected, a candidate must secure more than half of the votes cast. If no candidate achieves this threshold in the first round, a second round will be held between the two leading candidates.

Church rules stipulate that the enlarged council must be convened within 40 days of the patriarch’s death, and no later than two months afterward. The date for this council is expected to be determined by the Synod, although it may be set at a later stage.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze noted that the eligibility criteria could be subject to interpretation, particularly regarding age limits and definitions such as “ethnic Georgian” or monastic status. He emphasised, however, that the Synod is bound to follow the church’s governing statute strictly and does not have the authority to amend it.