Patriarch Ilia II has been transferred to Sioni Cathedral
His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, was escorted in a procession from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral.
Before Ilia II’s burial, a memorial service will be held, and he will be laid to rest in Sioni Cathedral, on the left side of the altar.
Along the entire route from the Trinity Cathedral to Sioni Cathedral, where the funeral procession passed, a special corridor formed by members of the military was arranged.
Along the funeral route, a “live corridor” was set up, allowing citizens to pay their respects to the spiritual father of the nation.
Believers arrived from different regions to pay their final respects to the Patriarch.
To attend Ilia II’s funeral, delegations from various countries and churches arrived in Tbilisi. Among them are the President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Chairperson of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, as well as delegations from the Vatican and the Russian Church, along with representatives of various religious confessions.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Georgian government together with foreign delegations.
The Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral began at 09:00 in the morning. The service was conducted by the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of All Georgia, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, together with members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church.
The funeral service for the Blessed Patriarch was performed by the Archbishop of Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, together with Metropolitan Shio and members of the Holy Synod.
The faithful gathered in the cathedral courtyard were able to follow the service on numerous monitors installed outside.
For reference, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, passed away at the age of 93. Following his death, a period of mourning was declared in Georgia. A public memorial service was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral over the past days.
