According to the Statute of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia, 40 days after the death of the Patriarch and no later than 2 months, the Vicar of the Patriarchal Throne convenes an expanded Council of the Georgian Church, at which the new Catholicos-Patriarch is elected.
Before this expanded Council, the Vicar convenes the Holy Synod to nominate candidates. The Synod selects three candidates to be presented at the Council. Each member of the Synod has the right to nominate one candidate, including himself. Currently, the Synod has 39 members. With this number, in order to be elected Patriarch, a candidate must receive at least 20 votes.
The three candidates who received the most votes participate in the expanded Council as candidates for Patriarch. Each participant in the Council has the right to express an opinion on the candidates.
Only the hierarchs participate in the voting itself for the election of the Catholicos-Patriarch.
The candidate who receives more than half of the votes of the participating bishops is considered elected. If no one receives the required majority, a second round is held between the two candidates with the most votes.
The enthronement of the new Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia takes place in the Svetitskhoveli Patriarchal Church in Mtskheta, dedicated to the holy twelve apostles.
The statute sets the following conditions for candidates for patriarch:
1. To be a Georgian and a bishop of the Georgian Orthodox Church;
2. To have a theological education and sufficient experience in church governance;
3. To be between the ages of 40 and 70 and to be a monk. At present, out of the 39 members of the Synod, 9 are over 70 years of age.
