Ecumenical Patriarch to attend funeral of Georgia’s Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II

Sources from the Phanar confirmed the news to orthodoxtimes.com, noting that the Ecumenical Patriarch will preside over the funeral service for the late Patriarch Ilia.

The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially confirmed this information to Channel One of the Georgian Public Broadcaster.

The Ecumenical Patriarch performed a memorial service at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in honour of Patriarch Ilia II’s soul. In a letter addressed to the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch conveyed his heartfelt condolences on the passing of the head of the Georgian Church.

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia will be laid to rest on Sunday, March 22, at Sioni Cathedral.

Patriarch Ilia II, who was 93, passed away on March 17.