Proto-presbyter Father Giorgi Zviadadze explains how passes were distributed for the funeral ceremony of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

As he told the media at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral, there were no instructions regarding who should or should not receive a pass.

“What I can tell you with full honesty and truth is what I heard at the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Government Administration. Prime Minister Mr. Irakli Kobakhidze clearly emphasized that people must be in the cathedral and, as much as possible, in very large numbers - however many can be accommodated in the Sameba Cathedral. There were no such instructions given there about who should receive passes and who should not. I do not know exactly who distributed the passes, but there were no instructions in that regard. His Eminence Shio also held the same position - that people should be in the cathedral, as the Patriarch’s person is connected with the entire society and the people. It made a strong impression on me that both the Prime Minister and the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne had a unified position. There were no instructions that one person should receive a pass and another should not. I had certain responsibilities before His Holiness, I was extremely busy, and I did not concern myself with who was distributing the passes,” said Father Giorgi Zviadadze.

For context, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, passed away on March 17. From March 18, his public lying-in-state was held at the Sameba Cathedral. Thousands of citizens paid their respects. Ilia II was buried on March 22 at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral.