Enthronement of Patriarch Shio III underway at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

The enthronement ceremony of Shio III, the 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, is underway at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

During the ceremony, the newly elected Patriarch is being vested with the patriarchal bison and presented with the main symbols of the Patriarchate - the staff, mitre and panagia.

Shio III was elected as the 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia by the expanded council of the Georgian Orthodox Church on 11 May.

The enthronement ceremony is being attended by Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman of Georgian Dream.

Among those present at the cathedral are President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, State Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze, and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, alongside representatives of the executive and legislative authorities.