Georgia Bids Farewell to Patriarch Ilia II
By Messenger Staff
Monday, March 23, 2026
On March 22, 2026, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, who led the Georgian Orthodox Church for nearly half a century, was laid to rest at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral. The burial followed a massive funeral procession that drew thousands of mourners to the streets of Tbilisi to honor the leader who had served since his election in 1977.
The day began at the Holy Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral, where the Patriarch's body had lain in repose since March 18. During the morning, a Divine Liturgy was led by the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, and the Holy Synod. The funeral service was performed by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, who arrived in Tbilisi for the ceremony. High-ranking clergy from the Orthodox Churches of Bulgaria, Albania, the Czech and Slovak lands, and the United States were in attendance, along with a Vatican delegation. A Russian delegation, including special envoy Mikhail Shvydkoy and Hilarion Alfeyev, also attended to convey condolences from President Vladimir Putin.
Political leaders and international dignitaries gathered to pay their respects, including Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian and Azerbaijan's National Assembly Speaker Sahiba Gafarova. Top Georgian Dream's officials, including Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, and Mikheil Kavelashvili, addressed the congregation.
At 14:40, the funeral procession began as the Patriarch's body was moved from Holy Trinity to the downtown Sioni Cathedral. The military formed a two-kilometer corridor, and thousands of citizens lined the route, chanting "We love you, Patriarch" and applauding. Large screens were set up throughout the city for those who could not enter the cathedrals. Since the Patriarch's passing on March 17, the public response has been continuous, with citizens standing in line for hours and some sleeping outside the cathedral to say their final goodbyes.
The procession reached Sioni Cathedral, the historic seat of the Georgian Church, around 16:00. Before the interment, Metropolitan Shio and the senior-most bishop, Metropolitan Anania (Japaridze), spoke of the Patriarch's unique connection to the cathedral where his 49-year leadership began. At 16:20, Ilia II was laid to rest in a specially prepared grave beside the altar. At 17:00, all television broadcasting and recordings were stopped as the private burial ceremony concluded.
