The Royal House of Georgia marks the election of His Eminence Metropolitan Shio as the 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and the beginning of his leadership of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

The Georgian Church has played a central role in the life of the nation for more than sixteen centuries. Since the Christianization of Georgia in the fourth century, the Church has remained one of the principal guardians of the country’s spiritual, cultural, and national identity.

The history of the Georgian Church is closely connected with that of the Bagrationi Dynasty, the Royal House of Georgia and the oldest Christian royal dynasty in continuous existence. Throughout Georgia’s history, the Crown and the Church worked together in preserving the country’s traditions, faith, and national continuity.

Today, the Royal House of Georgia continues to support the preservation of Georgian heritage, Christian values, and charitable works under the leadership of HRH Prince Davit Bagration of Mukhrani, Head of the Royal House of Georgia.

The Royal House of Georgia recognizes the importance of this moment in the life of the Georgian Church and expresses its hopes for continued stability, spiritual leadership, and unity for all Georgian people without exception.