Head of Bulgarian Church: Patriarch Ilia is a blessing for Georgian people

Georgia is bidding farewell to Patriarch Ilia II on his final journey. Photo: Press Service of the Bulgarian Church

Patriarch Daniel of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, who visited Georgia to participate in the funeral service for the reposed Patriarch Ilia II, called his ministry a great blessing for the Georgian people. In a comment to Georgian media, the Primate emphasized the significance of the late Patriarch's personality, reports orthodoxianewsagency website.

"We're laying to rest a man of God. A man who served Georgia for 49 years. To serve as Patriarch for such a time is impossible without God's blessing. This is a rare phenomenon, and it means that the Georgian people in the person of Ilia II received a great blessing from God," said Patriarch Daniel.

Speaking about the people's love for the Primate, he noted: «We saw an endless stream of people – people who were grateful to His Beatitude and came to bid him farewell».

He also drew attention to the spiritual feat of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze and his connection with the ministry of Patriarch Ilia.

"Both Patriarch Ilia II and Saint Gabriel, the fool for Christ, began their ministry after the persecutions of the communist regime. From a spiritual point of view, it was a desert, and they began with faith, virtuous life and enlightening ministry for the people," noted the head of the Bulgarian Church.

Separately, the Primate highlighted the veneration of the saint in Bulgaria and the significance of his feat: "In Bulgaria, particles of the relics of Father Gabriel are also kept, whom we especially venerate. The example of these two personalities is extremely important for us. We hope to have their prayerful intercession».

In conclusion, Patriarch Daniel expressed his wish for the strengthening of faith of the Georgian people and further development of unity and brotherly love between the Bulgarian and Georgian Orthodox Churches.

As the UOJ wrote, the Patriarch of Bulgaria and the Georgian Locum Tenens discussed inter-church relations.

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