His Beatitude Patriarch John X Congratulates the New Patriarch of Georgia:

“You and your good people are ever present in the prayers of the faithful of the Church of Antioch”

Damascus, May 13, 2026

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch SHIO, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. In his message to the Catholicos, the Patriarch wrote:

“With profound gladness and heartfelt joy, we received the news of Your elevation to the Patriarchal Throne of Georgia, succeeding our brother Catholicos-Patriarch ILIA II of Thrice-Blessed memory.

On our behalf and in the name of the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East, we extend to Your Holiness our heartfelt congratulations. We ask Christ God, the Lord of mercy and fountain of all consolation, to stand beside you as You lead His blessed flock, guiding it to the springs of divine salvation. We likewise implore divine mercy for the soul of our departed brother, Catholicos-Patriarch ILIA II.

We pray for you and for the Church of Georgia, with which we have been bound by historic ties since the dawn of Christianity. You and your good people are ever present in the prayers of the children of the Church of Antioch, the Church that gave the world the name ‘Christians’, and which has always maintained the closest and warmest relations with the Church of Georgia, the Church that have borne witness to Christ God and preserved the Apostolic faith through the darkest times.

We renew our prayers and ask the Heavenly Bridegroom to make us all worthy to revive pan-Orthodox cooperation amid the difficult circumstances through which our world is enduring.”

This Letter was originally published on the Facebook Page of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.