Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslawye Veniamin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, headed the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the funeral service for Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. As Church.by reports, the delegation was sent with the blessing of Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill.
According to TASS, members of the ROC delegation are seated in a specially designated area near Ilia II’s coffin. Representatives of the Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian, Romanian and Armenian churches are also there. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is also taking part in the funeral service. The service is being led by Metropolitan Shio.
On the evening of March 21, Metropolitan Veniamin led a memorial litia at the coffin. The day before, he expressed condolences over the death of the Georgian patriarch.
“Orthodox believers in Belarus received with deep sorrow the news of the completion of the earthly journey of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. A faithful laborer in Christ’s vineyard has departed to the Lord, a man whose name is forever inscribed in the history of the Georgian state and people,” he said.
According to the metropolitan, Ilia II enjoyed “enormous respect and authority” throughout the Orthodox world. He recalled the patriarch’s visit to Belarus in 2013 on the occasion of the 1,025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’.
“The spiritual feat of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II became a living sermon of Christ not only for the good of the Georgian people, but also for the preservation of brotherly ties between the Churches, reminding us that we are one Body of Christ, united by one faith and love,” the condolence message says.
Ilia II died on the evening of March 17. Mourning has been declared in Georgia. The patriarch was elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia in 1977 — during his years of service, the number of dioceses in the Georgian Orthodox Church grew from 15 to 47. According to his will, he will be buried at Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. The lying in state began on March 18, and the Holy Trinity Cathedral remained open around the clock. The patriarch’s funeral will take place on Sunday, March 22.
