Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia, has Died at Age 93 - Orthodox Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia in Europe - Godfather to 50,000 Citizens - RIP



Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia, has died. Ilia II was the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia from 1977 until his death in 2026. He was the longest serving patriarch in the history of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Born in Ordzhonikidze, to a Georgian Orthodox family, he studied at the Moscow Theological Academy from 1956 to 1960.
(Image Vatican Media from 1999 Meeting of Pope John Paul II with Patriarch https://www.vaticannews.va/it/chiesa/news/2024-11/giovanni-paolo-ii-georgia-viaggio-apostilico-anniversario.html)

Georgia Prepares for State Funeral of Patriarch Ilia II


The Georgian Orthodox Church has announced that Patriarch Ilia II, who passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at age 93, will be laid to rest this Sunday, March 22, at Tbilisi’s historic Sioni Cathedral. The burial site was chosen in accordance with the Patriarch’s personal wishes. In response to his passing, the government has declared a national day of mourning, and the country remains under a state of emergency.

Currently, the Patriarch’s body lies in state at the Holy Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral, which remains open 24 hours a day for public viewing. High-ranking officials, including President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, have already paid their respects. To facilitate the massive crowds expected for the funeral, the government—led by a special commission under the Prime Minister—has made public transport free across Tbilisi for the weekend.

Ilia II led the Church for over half a century, overseeing a massive spiritual revival from the Soviet era to the present. Global religious leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, have praised his "profound spiritual legacy" and his role as a unifying force for the Georgian people.

Summary of Funeral Arrangements for Patriarch Ilia II

  • Funeral Date: Sunday, March 22.

  • Location: Sioni Cathedral, Tbilisi (per the Patriarch’s request).

  • Public Access: Sameba Cathedral is currently open 24/7 for mourners. Public transport will be free on March 21–22.

  • Government Action: A national day of mourning has been declared. Prime Minister Kobakhidze is chairing a state commission to coordinate the ceremony.

  • International Presence: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will attend, alongside representatives from the Bulgarian, Romanian, and Russian Orthodox Churches, among others.

  • Legacy: Having served since the Soviet era, Ilia II grew the Church from 15 to 47 dioceses and leaves behind a legacy as Georgia's most trusted public figure and godfather to 50,000 citizens.

The End of an Era: Georgia Mourns Patriarch Ilia II

After 47 years of leadership that saw the Georgian Orthodox Church rise from the constraints of Soviet persecution to a flourishing modern institution, Patriarch Ilia II will be laid to rest this Sunday. In a gesture of humility, he requested to be buried in the historic Sioni Cathedral rather than the larger modern cathedrals.

The scale of the mourning reflects his status as the nation’s "unifying force." From the free transport provided for the hundreds of thousands of expected mourners to the arrival of world religious leaders like Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the world is pausing to honor a man who transformed 30 struggling churches into a vibrant network of 2,000 parishes. As Georgia observes a national day of mourning, the Patriarch’s 50,000 godchildren and millions of faithful followers prepare to say a final, state-honored farewell to the man who defined Georgian spirituality for over half a century.

Sources: https://www.vaticannews.va/it/chiesa/news/2026-03/morto-il-primate-della-chiesa-ortodossa-autocefala-ilia-ii.html

https://sazu.ge/posts/post/2237

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