The funeral ceremony of Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II (in the world Irakli Gudushauri-Shiolashvili) is taking place at Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi. Hundreds of people have gathered in the courtyard since early morning, with a queue stretching for hundreds of meters. The flow of mourners has not ceased throughout the days, and the farewell ceremony has continued both day and night.
“Ilya II was a spiritual father to the whole of Georgia, and there is deep sorrow on the faces of the parishioners today,” said journalist Giorgi Jabishvili.
Reinforced police and military units have been deployed near the Avlabari metro station, with special corridors established. Speakers are installed around the perimeter broadcasting messages of condolences from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
According to reports released on March 17, Ilia II died at the age of 94 in a clinic. The Catholicos-Patriarch was elected to the throne on December 23, 1977, and was enthroned two days later. His funeral was scheduled for March 22 at the Zion Cathedral.
