← Back to Religious Leader Tracker
Georgian Orthodox Church
Quick Facts
- Tradition
- Christianity · Eastern Orthodoxy
- Current leader
- Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio (Mujiri)
- Leader since
- May 12th 2026
- Days in office
- –
Intro
The Georgian Orthodox Church, fully known as the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church (Georgian: საქართველოს სამოციქულო ავტოკეფალური მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესია, romanized: sakartvelos samotsikulo avtʼokepaluri martlmadidebeli eklesia), is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in full communion with the other churches of Eastern Orthodoxy.
Structure
Holy Synod
The Georgian Orthodox Church is managed by the Holy Synod, headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. The Holy Synod is the collective body of bishops of the church. In addition to the Patriarch, the Synod comprises 38 members, including 25 metropolitan bishops, 5 archbishops and 7 simple bishops. As of 2012, the following bishops are members of the Holy Synod, in such hierarchical order:
- Metropolitan of Kutaisi and Gelati: Calistratos (Margalitashvili)
- Metropolitan of Chiatura and Sachkhere: Daniel (Datushvili)
- Metropolitan of Western Europe: Abraham (Garmeliya)
- Metropolitan of Tianeti and Pshav-Khevsureti: Tadeos (Ioramashvili)
- Metropolitan of Manglisi and Tsalka: Anania (Japaridze)
- Metropolitan of Margveti and Ubisi: Vakhtang (Akhvledani)
- Metropolitan of Tsilkani and Dusheti: Zosimas (Shioshvili)
- Metropolitan of Tqibuli and Terjola: Giorgi (Shalamberidze)
- Metropolitan of Urbnisi and Ruisi: Job (Akiashvili)
- Metropolitan of Alaverdi: David (Makharadze)
- Metropolitan of Nekresi: Sergios (Chekurishvili)
- Metropolitan of Shemokmedi: Joseph (Kikvadze)
- Metropolitan of Nikozi and Tskhinvali: Isaiah (Chanturia)
- Metropolitan of Borjomi and Bakuriani: Seraphim (Jojua)
- Metropolitan of Nikortsminda: Elise (Jokhadze)
- Metropolitan of Poti and Khobi: Grigori (Berbichashvili)
- Metropolitan of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo: Nikoloz (Pachuashvili)
- Metropolitan of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti: Theodore (Chuadze)
- Metropolitan of Khoni and Samtredia: Saba (Gagiberiya)
- Metropolitan of Batumi, Lazeti, North America and Canada: Dimitri (Shiolashvili)
- Metropolitan of Vani and Baghdati: Anton (Buluhiya)
- Metropolitan of Zugdidi and Tsaishi: Gerasimos (Sharashenidze)
- Metropolitan of Samtavisi and Gori: Andria (Gvazava)
- Metropolitan of Chkondidi and Martvili: Petre (Tsaava)
- Metropolitan of Senaki, Chkhorotsqu and Australia: Shio (Mujiri)
- Archbishop of Tsageri and Lentekhi: Stepan (Kalaidzhishvili)
- Archbishop of Bodbe: David (Tikaradze)
- Archbishop of Stepantsminda and Khevi: Iegudiel (Tabatadze)
- Archbishop of Rustavi and Marneuli: Ioane (Gamrekeli)
- Archbishop of Dmanisi, Agarak - Tashiri, Great Britain and Ireland: Zenon (Iaradzhuli)
- Bishop of Mestia and Upper Svaneti: Ilarion (Kitiashvili)
- Bishop of Gurjaani and Velistsikhe: Euthymos (Lezhava)
- Bishop of Ninotsminda and Sagarejo: Luka (Lomidze)
- Bishop of Skhalta: Spiridon (Abuladze)
- Bishop of Bolnisi: Ephrem (Gamrekelidze)
- Bishop of Dedoplistsqaro and Hereti: Melchisedek (Khachidze)
- Bishop of Gardabani and Martqopi: Jacob (Iakobishvili)
- Bishop of Surami and Khashuri: Svimeon (Tsakashvili)
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia
The first head bishop of the Georgia Church to carry the title of Patriarch was Melkisedek I (1010–1033). From 1977 until his repose in 2026, Ilia II (born in 1933) served as the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi. In May 2026, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsqu was elected as the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, with his enthronement scheduled for May 12 at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Here is a list of the Catholicos-Patriarchs since the church restored autocephaly in 1917:
- Kyrion II (1917–1918)
- Leonid (1918–1921)
- Ambrose (1921–1927)
- Christophorus III (1927–1932)
- Callistratus (1932–1952)
- Melchizedek III (1952–1960)
- Ephraim II (1960–1972)
- David V (1972–1977)
- Ilia II (1977–2026)
- Shio III (2026–present)