Jincharadze congratulates newly elected Patriarch Shio III, hopes for reunification with Abkhazia

Chair of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia Giorgi Jincharadze has congratulated His Holiness and Beatitude Shio III on his election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, expressing hope that Georgia will move closer to reconciliation and reunification with Abkhazia during his leadership of the Church.

“The election of Metropolitan Shio as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia is a historic responsibility and the continuation of the great spiritual path established over decades by His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II,” Jincharadze said.

“... we believe that during your patriarchate, through your prayers and support, we will achieve rapprochement with Abkhazia and reunification once again,” he added.

Jincharadze also said he was confident Shio III would worthily continue the spiritual legacy of Ilia II, whose era he described as a symbol of national unity, peace, tolerance and the protection of Georgian identity.