{"id":563649,"date":"2026-03-24T15:58:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=563649"},"modified":"2026-03-24T15:58:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:58:07","slug":"funeral-patriarch-ilia-ii-georgia-tbilisi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/funeral-patriarch-ilia-ii-georgia-tbilisi\/","title":{"rendered":"Tens of thousands attend funeral of Georgian Patriarch Ilia II"},"content":{"rendered":"

The funeral of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia took place on Sunday at 12:30 local time, drawing tens of thousands of mourners.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The burial service was officiated by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I<\/a>, concelebrating with Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku (Mujiri), Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of the Georgian Orthodox Church, together with members of the Holy Synod.<\/p>\n

The Romanian Patriarchate was represented by a delegation<\/a> comprising Metropolitan Ioan of Banat, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti, and Archdeacon Nicolae Iftimiu, Patriarchal Adviser.<\/p>\n

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Official delegations of sister Orthodox Churches attended the funeral service of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia at Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi, Sunday, March 23, 2026. Photo: Basilica.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among those attending the funeral were the highest representatives of the Georgian state, including President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili.<\/p>\n

Following the service, a funeral procession proceeded to the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God (Sioni), where Patriarch Ilia II was laid to rest.<\/p>\n