Funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II underway in Tbilisi

The funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of all Georgia is taking place in Tbilisi at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

Since the morning of March 22, a religious service has been conducted inside the cathedral, with worshippers following the ceremony via screens set up across the capital. The cathedral hosts government officials and representatives from over 40 delegations. An Azerbaijani delegation, led by Milli Majlis Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova, is also in Tbilisi to participate in the funeral. Representatives of most Orthodox churches, including the Vatican, have attended the farewell.

At 12:15 local time, Patriarch Bartholomew I of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople arrived at the cathedral. Together with Metropolitan Shio, locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, and members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church, he will conduct the burial service. At 15:00, the body of Ilia II will be carried on foot to the Sioni Cathedral.

The Catholicos-Patriarch will be buried in the northern part of Sioni Cathedral, between two holy relics — the Cross of Saint Nino and the Icon of the Iverian Mother of God.

Metropolitan Nikoloz of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo stated that Ilia II could be canonized in the near future, potentially even today.