UOC Delegation Attends Enthronement of Patr. Shio
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church joined hierarchs and state leaders in Tbilisi for the enthronement celebrations of Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III.
TBILISI — An official delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) participated in celebrations marking the enthronement of His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III following an invitation from the Georgian Patriarchate.
The delegation attended the events with the blessing of His Beatitude Metr. Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine and was headed by Metr. Sergius of Ternopil and Kremenets. Representatives of the UOC arrived in Tbilisi on May 16 to take part in the ecclesiastical celebrations and meetings with hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
On the morning of May 17, Metr. Sergius and members of the delegation joined Georgian hierarchs in a procession to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where they were received by Patr. Shio. At the cathedral, the Georgian primate led a prayer service marking the Day of the Sanctity of the Family, a national observance celebrated annually in Georgia.
Later that evening, church and state officials gathered for a formal reception honoring the enthronement. During the event, Metr. Sergius conveyed congratulations on behalf of Metr. Onuphry and presented commemorative gifts to the Georgian patriarch. The celebrations were attended by Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, representatives of state authorities, and delegates from various local Orthodox churches participating in the festivities surrounding the enthronement.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Orthodox leaders congratulated Patr. Shio following his election in Georgia.
