The Apostolic Church of Georgia will elect the 142nd Patriarch by May 16. The expanded assembly is to be preceded by a meeting of the Holy Synod, where three candidates must be nominated. The date of the meeting is unknown at this stage.

According to the clergy, the new leader of the Church must be elected between April 26 and May 16, within 60 days of the Patriarch`s passing. The bishops have already selected the location for this historic day.

By the decision made at the Holy Synod meeting on April 3, the primate of the Georgian Church will be elected in the Holy Trinity Cathedral [Sameba], which was blessed by Ilia II. On this day, 2,000 people will gather in the cathedral built at the Patriarch`s initiative for the expanded session, though only the bishops will have the right to vote. The Patriarchal mitre will be donned by the one who receives the majority - at least 20 votes - from the 3 candidates selected by the Synod.