Tbilisi, April 24, 2026
sazu.ge
The Georgian Orthodox Church will observe the 40th day since the repose of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II on Saturday, April 25, with Church officials revealing a final wish the late spiritual leader had expressed for his flock.
The Patriarch had asked that each Georgian, for the glory of God, would correct at least one personal flaw and abandon it forever.
“If each of us does this also in the name of our Patriarch, imagine how much of the Lord’s grace and mercy will be bestowed upon our nation, how we will gladden His Holiness and Beatitude with this, and what great help this will be for (both our and) his soul,” the Church’s Public Relations Service said in a statement released Wednesday.
Patriarch Ilia II reposed on March 17, having spent 48 years on the Patriarchal throne.
According to Christian teaching, the 40th day holds particular significance. “Based on deeds accomplished in this world, on the 40th day the soul is settled in a place that will not change until the Second Coming,” the statement explains.
The Church notes that all of Georgia has been praying for the late Patriarch, with many seeking ways to honor his memory beyond prayer alone.
“It’s very important, for example, to do good deeds for your neighbor,” the statement says, emphasizing various ways the faithful can support the departed Patriarch’s soul.
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