TBILISI, May 10 – About 1,200 delegates are expected to attend an expanded church meeting on Monday to elect the next patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The meeting will be held at Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral in Tbilisi.
Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze, head of the Patriarchate’s public relations service, said entry into the cathedral will be allowed only for people on special lists. Delegates and guests must bring identity cards.
The courtyard, however, will be open to anyone who wants to attend from outside.
Entry to the cathedral will begin at 10:00, while guests and delegates must be received by 12:00. Bishops are also expected to arrive during that period, after which preparations for the vote will begin.
Mobile phone use will be strictly limited inside the cathedral.
Part of the event will be broadcast by Georgia’s Public Broadcaster’s Channel 1. Jaghmaidze said the opening of the meeting, the voting process and the announcement of the final result will be shown live. The counting of votes will not be broadcast.
Part of the session will be closed. The Patriarchate said it may release necessary information and footage after the meeting if it considers it needed.
Car access to the cathedral will be restricted. People will be able to reach the site on foot from Akhvlediani Street or from Avlabari metro station, using the uphill road leading to Sameba Cathedral.
Jaghmaidze said rules for speakers were set at the Synod session on April 28. Candidates for the patriarchal throne will speak, along with one person from each candidate’s diocese.
There will also be a historical overview of the title of Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, presented by a scholar.
The result is expected to be announced the same day. According to Jaghmaidze, the result will be announced by Metropolitan Anania, who chairs the vote-counting commission.
