ROC delegation serves lity for Patriarch Ilia at Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi
A ROC delegation at the memorial service for Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. Photo: UOJ
On March 21, 2026, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church performed a memorial lity for the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. The service took place in the country's main church, where believers have been bidding farewell to their spiritual father for several days.
The lity was led by the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Veniamin (Tupeko) of Minsk and Zaslavl. He was concelebrated by Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev) and clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church honored the memory of the late hierarch, who for five decades was a symbol of unity and spiritual revival of the Georgian people.
Delegations of Local Churches from around the world continue to arrive in Tbilisi to participate in the mourning events. Tomorrow, March 22, the funeral service and burial will take place at the Sameba Cathedral, which will be led by the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal throne, Metropolitan Shio.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the heads of the Albanian and Czech Churches arrived for the funeral of Patriarch Ilia.
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