Georgian Orthodox Church faces crisis over patriarch succession dispute
Archbishop Zenon Iarajuli of the Georgian Orthodox Church has publicly opposed the potential election of Metropolitan Shio Mujiri as patriarch. He warned that Mujiri’s leadership would pose serious risks to the Church’s stability and unity. Iarajuli accused Mujiri and several other bishops of forming an 'illegal group' within the Patriarchate. He claimed they acted without proper consultation, presenting decisions as final even before formal discussions took place. This behaviour, he argued, sidelined most bishops and undermined the Church’s governance.
The archbishop also stated that Ilia II, the current patriarch, had nominated Mujiri only as a future incumbent, not as an official successor. Iarajuli further alleged that both Russian and Georgian authorities favoured Mujiri, with representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate openly supporting him as their preferred candidate.
He described Mujiri as 'unjust' and claimed that after the 2017 cyanide scandal, the government had pressured bishops to back Mujiri’s appointment. While Iarajuli said he had no direct evidence of current interference, he mentioned a businessperson had approached bishops to secure votes for Mujiri. Iarajuli insisted that no elections or enthronement could proceed until internal disputes were resolved. He reiterated that Mujiri’s potential rise to patriarch would be dangerous for the Georgian Church. His statements highlight deep divisions within the Church’s leadership over the succession process.
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