Turkey’s President Erdogan sends condolences over death of Patriarch Ilia II

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sent a letter of condolence to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze following the death of His Holiness, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II.

In his message, Erdoğan said he was saddened to learn of the Patriarch’s passing on the night of 17 March. “On behalf of the Turkish people and myself, I extend my sincere condolences to the family of the deceased, to Your Excellency, to the Orthodox Church, and to the Georgian people,” the letter read.

Patriarch Ilia II, who led the Georgian Orthodox Church for decades, died on 17 March at the age of 93. He is due to be buried at Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi on 22 March.