"Appointing a locum tenens does not mean that the Patriarch will not govern anymore,"- says Father Giorgi Zviadadze. According to him, the Georgian Orthodox church is ruled by Ilia the II and the locum tenens may help him.

Father Giorgi Zviadadze explains that the appointment does not automatically mean that Shio Mujuru will be the next Patriarch.

"The Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia has a canonical authority and can name the locum tenens whenever he wants. When the Patriarch is alive, healthy, and has a bright mind, he rules the orthodox church himself and appointment of the locum tenens do not mean that he has stopped ruling," says Father Zviadadze.