Tbilisi, March 17, 2026
1tv.ge
His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, the man who revived the Georgian Orthodox Church during his 48 years on the primatial throne, reposed in the Lord today, reports the North American Diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
He was urgently hospitalized last night with massive bleeding from the stomach and died today at the Caucasus Medical Center in Tbilisi, where he was being treated.
His Holiness was 93 at the time of his repose.
Pat. Ilia was installed as head of the Georgian Church on December 25, 1977. At the time of his enthronement, there were 15 dioceses and only 30 active churches left thanks to communist persecutions. Today there are 47 dioceses and about 2,000 active parishes, as well as about 3,000 clergy.
He was the most beloved and trusted man in the Georgian nation, and was personally Godfather to more than 50,000 children.
He was also universally loved and respected throughout the Orthodox Church as a wise and steadfast archpastor.
May Patriarch Ilia’s memory be eternal!
Follow OrthoChristian on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe and Gab!
