“Patriarch, we love you!” - Georgia bids farewell to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II

Thousands of citizens gathered in Tbilisi to bid farewell to Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, accompanying him on his final journey with chants, prayers, and applause.

Georgia has said its final goodbye to its long-time spiritual leader, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, who was laid to rest at the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral following a solemn procession from the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi.

The funeral procession moved through the streets of Tbilisi, accompanied by clergy, parishioners, state officials, international delegations, and representatives of various religious confessions.

Soldiers formed a ceremonial corridor along the route, while thousands of citizens lined the streets to pay their respects.

Large screens were installed across the city, allowing the public to follow the procession.

The Patriarch was buried in accordance with his wishes inside Sioni Cathedral, near the ambo - between the Cross of Saint Nino and a revered icon associated with the Iviron Monastery.

Mourners gathered outside the cathedral expressed their farewell with chants of “Patriarch, we love you!”

Earlier, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the funeral service for the Patriarch was held, led by His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople–New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, together with the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Shio, and members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church.

Following the funeral service, speeches were delivered about the Patriarch’s legacy by the Locum Tenens Metropolitan Shio, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili, prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze, parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral has been open 24 hours a day since March 18 for the civil memorial service.

Citizens came in a continuous flow to pay their respects, with mourners arriving from all over the country.

Numerous delegations arrived in Tbilisi to honour Ilia II, including those from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Catholic Church.

Representatives of various confessions and religious organisations in Georgia also paid tribute to the Patriarch.

At the Holy Trinity Cathedral, choirs from across the country gathered, and during the days of mourning, Georgian hymns were performed continuously, 24 hours a day.