His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, has been laid to rest at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral. Before the burial, while his body lay in state at Sioni Cathedral, a memorial service for the repose of his soul was held.

The Patriarch was transferred in a procession from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral. “We love you, Patriarch”—it was with these chants and applause that he was escorted out of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Along the entire route from Trinity to Sioni, military personnel stood lined up holding Georgian flags.

Thousands of people took part in the funeral procession.

Ilia II passed away on March 17. Since March 18, a public memorial service had been held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Thousands of citizens paid tribute to his memory. During these days, the flow of people wishing to say goodbye to the Patriarch was continuous, 24 hours a day. In many cases, citizens had to stand in line for several hours to enter the cathedral. Many spent the night near the Trinity Cathedral due to the long queues.

This morning, a Divine Liturgy was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 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 was performed by the Archbishop of Constantinople–New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, together with Metropolitan Shio and members of the Holy Synod.

Ilia II was elected as the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church in 1977.