JAMnews. On the evening of March 17, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II passed away at the age of 93. He had led the Church for 48 years.
His death was confirmed to journalists by Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, who had conducted the Patriarch’s enthronement.
“It is very difficult for me to say what I must tell you now. A few minutes ago, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, passed away.
He was an epoch-making figure, a tremendous loss for the Orthodox Church worldwide.
I would like to express my condolences to every citizen of Georgia, to the entire country, our Church, and all of Christianity,” Shio Mujiri said.
Illness and death of Ilia II
The Patriarch’s deteriorating health became known on the morning of March 17. It was reported that late on March 16, he had been taken to the Chapidze Cardiology Center in Tbilisi due to a drop in blood oxygen levels.
Later, internal stomach bleeding was discovered, and he was transferred to the Caucasus Medical Center.
The Patriarch’s condition was critical. He was in intensive care and was intubated.
Throughout the day, clergy of all ranks, as well as representatives of the government and opposition, remained at the clinic. Many parishioners gathered outside.
It was reported that a resuscitation team from Turkey was expected to arrive late in the evening.
After Ilia II’s death, the only government official to comment to journalists was Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze. He said the Patriarch had developed multiple organ failure, including failure of the lungs, kidneys, and heart.
He added that, unfortunately, these developments had been expected, and the medical council had warned about this since the morning.
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