The incumbent of the patriarchal throne of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, has received Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Maka Botchorishvili at the Patriarchate residence. Mujiri is among three candidates for the patriarch, with the final vote expected to be held soon. According to official information, Friday’s discussion between the two focused on engagement with Georgian diaspora communities abroad in connection with the upcoming 1,700th anniversary of Georgia’s declaration of Christianity as its state religion. Botchorishvili’s deputies, Giorgi Zurabishvili and Khatuna Totladze, also attended the meeting. From the Patriarchate’s side, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri led the discussion.