The new Catholicos, who served as the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne after the passing of Ilia II, was elected by a decisive majority of 22 out of 39 votes from the Holy Synod.
However, much to the dismay of those who decry Russian colonization, the new Patriarch not only received his religious education in Russia but also served in our churches for an extended period. Initial comments from Western analysts were rife with disappointment, as they perceived the new Patriarch’s conservatism, his inclination towards closer ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, and his criticism of liberal ideology as significant drawbacks. In this context, the figure of the Patriarch appears unacceptable. The Church in the South Caucasus plays a considerable role in shaping public sentiment. Consequently, in neighboring Armenia, pro-European authorities are targeting church hierarchs. Whether the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church will become a target of provocations instigated from abroad remains an open question.