Azerbaijani parliament speaker to attend funeral of Georgian patriarch

Azerbaijani parliamentary speaker Sahiba Gafarova will travel to Tbilisi to attend the funeral of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

Gafarova will take part in the funeral service on March 22 at Sioni Cathedral as a sign of solidarity with the Georgian people, Caliber.Az reports per local media. 

Ilia II, who led the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977, passed away in hospital at the age of 94. Georgia has declared a period of mourning following his death.

During his tenure, the Holy Trinity Cathedral — the country’s largest church — was completed in Tbilisi. 

By Sabina Mammadli