Georgian Parliament leaders and officials attend Patriarch Ilia II’s transfer to Holy Trinity Cathedral

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and members of parliament paid tribute to His Holiness, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, participating in the procession for his transfer to the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Patriarch Ilia II’s body was moved from the Patriarchal Residence to the cathedral, where the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, together with members of the Holy Synod, conducted a memorial service in honour of the late Georgian spiritual leader.

The memorial at the Holy Trinity Cathedral was attended by key political figures, including Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, other members of the executive and legislative branches, as well as senior clergy.

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