Ex-Pres Saakashvili: Patriarch Ilia II’s legacy outweighs any criticism

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili has paid tribute to His Holiness, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, following his death, describing him as a “truly significant figure” whose legacy will endure.

Saakashvili on Wednesday said the Patriarch played a central role in restoring and strengthening the Georgian Orthodox Church and preserving its unity. “For Georgians, he was a spiritual leader who helped many people regain and strengthen their faith,” he said.

Saakashvili also reflected on his personal relationship with the Patriarch, noting that Ilia II was a friend and the godfather of his youngest son. He recalled first meeting him as a child in 1978 at Sioni Cathedral.

Addressing criticism of the Patriarch in recent years, Saakashvili said his declining health and circumstances should be taken into account. “No one is without fault, but the good he did is incomparably greater and more all-encompassing,” he wrote.

He added that Patriarch Ilia II enjoyed deep public support and that his death would leave “a significant void” within the Georgian Orthodox Church.