Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of All Georgia received Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, at the Georgian Patriarchate on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
The meeting was attended by hierarchs and clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church, including Metropolitan Theodore of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti, Metropolitan Saba of Khoni and Samtredia, Metropolitan Gerasime of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, Chairman of the Patriarchate’s Department for Foreign Relations, and Metropolitan Andria of Gori and Ateni.
The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, with discussions focusing on maintaining and strengthening the fraternal relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Emmanuel conveys Ecumenical Patriarch’s greetings
Metropolitan Emmanuel conveyed the fraternal greetings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III and congratulated him on his enthronement as Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The two sides also recalled the funeral of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Georgia on that occasion.
Patriarch Shio once again expressed his gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for his presence and sympathy, recalling in particular his remarks at the funeral of Patriarch Ilia II, which he described as being filled with “true fraternal warmth and love, gratitude and respect.”
“These were very difficult months for us, following the passing of His Holiness and as our Church continued its life without him,” Patriarch Shio said.
He also recalled the Ecumenical Patriarch’s congratulations following his own election, saying that he would “never forget” the words addressed to him on that occasion.
“A foundation for continuing centuries-old relations”
For his part, Metropolitan Emmanuel thanked Patriarch Shio for the warm reception and conveyed the Ecumenical Patriarch’s best wishes.
“I came to Georgia with double joy, to congratulate you on your election as Catholicos-Patriarch,” Metropolitan Emmanuel said, stressing the close relationship between the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Georgia.
He described these ties as part of the legacy left by the late Patriarch Ilia II and said the election of Shio III was viewed positively by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
“This will serve as a foundation for the continuation of the centuries-old relations that exist between our two Churches,” he said.
Metropolitan Emmanuel also conveyed a message from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, telling the Georgian Primate: “We await you with great joy.”
Future visit to Constantinople discussed
A significant part of the meeting was devoted to discussions concerning a future visit by Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III to Constantinople.
Patriarch Shio expressed hope that his first face-to-face meeting with Metropolitan Emmanuel since his enthronement would mark the beginning of an even warmer relationship between the two Churches.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Georgian Patriarch presented gifts to Metropolitan Emmanuel. A gift intended for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was also entrusted to the Metropolitan to take with him.
