“Be encouraged, brothers and children; your Patriarch and father has not died but sleeps. It is rightly said of Patriarch Ilia: ‘The dead are alive,’ for the righteous dead live on,” said His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople–New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, during his address at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

The Ecumenical Patriarch urged the public not to succumb to grief, but to reverently uphold the advice and teachings of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II.

“He lives where there is uncreated light and blessed vision—everything that is holy and unseen. That is, he lives in the all-luminous Kingdom of the Holy Trinity, in whose honor the magnificent Holy Trinity Cathedral was built in Tbilisi. He lives together with the saints of his nation: Saint Nino, Equal-to-the-Apostles; Saint Ketevan; Saint Ilarion; Saint David; the 100,000 Martyrs of Tbilisi; and even up to his contemporary and friend, the venerable Gabriel the Fool-for-Christ. Therefore, do not allow sorrow to overcome you. Reverently preserve and follow his advice and teachings—that will be his best memorial. Rejoice, for your spiritual father, Patriarch Ilia II, now abides glorified in the dwelling of the living. He is now more powerful than when he was among you. He has boldness before the throne of God to bring you even greater help and blessings. Therefore, with reverence, kiss his holy paternal right hand. Ask for his blessing and bid him farewell together with us. Although it may seem, at first glance, not entirely in liturgical order, in this sorrow, joy is also entirely fitting. With a polyphonic, thunderous voice, dispelling death and filled with joy: ‘Christ is Risen! To Him be all glory, honor, worship, and thanksgiving. Amen!’,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.

For reference, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, passed away at the age of 93. Following his passing, a period of mourning was declared in Georgia, and he will be laid to rest today at Sioni Cathedral.