The fifth President of Georgia, Salome Zourabishvili, wrote on social media regarding the passing of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II:

“Farewell, our Patriarch! You endured as much as you could so that this country would not be left in such a state, lost and turned against itself. Your entire service was devoted to three main goals.

First, of course, was serving God and restoring spirituality in a country where seventy years of Soviet rule attempted, and partly succeeded, in eradicating Christianity. You restored the Georgian Church not only through temples and liturgies but through faith and spiritual strength.

Second, your unwavering goal was the unity of society, because you knew well that every enemy of this country sought to break that unity, foment internal conflict, and weaken the nation from within.

Third, your deep patriotism and sense of statehood were evident. From the very first days of your enthronement, you ensured that Georgian monasteries acted as spiritual guardians at every border. Where the state could not yet secure recognized borders, you strengthened the Georgian land with the cross, continuing the Church’s centuries-old mission of safeguarding national unity and independence.

This morning, a Georgian woman born in Paris, who has long battled serious illness, asked me: ‘How is our Patriarch?’ Your Holiness, you were and will always be our Patriarch. Now, more than ever, we will need your prayers so that the Georgian Church and the Georgian people can overcome the extremely difficult period ahead. These forty days and the remaining time of fasting will undoubtedly be the most difficult, but at the end of a bright path, light always appears. Farewell, our Patriarch – may the grace of the Lord protect you!”

For reference, His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, passed away at the age of 93. Following his passing, a period of mourning was declared in Georgia.