‘End of Epoch’ – Georgia Mourns Patriarch

2026-03-18 - 12:04

Georgia has declared a period of mourning following the passing of Patriarch Ilia II, with politicians across the spectrum and representatives of various public groups coming together to extend condolences and reflect on the legacy of the influential religious leader. Patriarch Ilia II, who led the Church for nearly five decades, died at Tbilisi’s Caucasus Medical Center after being hospitalized in critical condition with severe internal bleeding during the early hours of March 17. He was widely regarded as one of the most pivotal figures in Georgia’s recent history, enjoying broad public trust across political divides in a country where more than 80 percent of the population identifies with Orthodox Christianity. The Patriarch’s body will be transferred in a procession to Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral on the afternoon of March 18, where it will lie in repose for memorial services. “His personality and life perhaps most vividly reflect the upheavals we have gone through over this period,” Zviad Abashidze, a Georgian political scientist, wrote on March 18. “The re-establishment of the Church as an institution and the immense growth of its authority are directly linked to his persona, an extremely difficult process that certainly did not happen overnight,” Abashidze said, noting that the Orthodox Church “is the only historical institution that has survived from our centuries-old past, as all others were first destroyed by the Romanovs and later by Soviet Russia.” “However, in recent years, due to age, the Patriarch’s influential hand was truly missed in shaping events, which allowed many ill-intentioned actors to take advantage,” Abashidze added. As statements continue to pour in, commentators have noted Ilia II’s far-reaching authority, the rare level of public trust he enjoyed despite deep polarization, and his role in shaping decades of Georgia’s spiritual life, marked by the growing influence of the Georgian Orthodox Church since the late Soviet years. Having led the Church since 1977, his tenure weathered repeated controversies, including internal scandals, criticism over foreign policy and domestic political stances, the Church’s attitudes toward LGBTQ+ groups, and recurring questions about its loyalty to those in power, including at times tacit or more explicit endorsement of more repressive policies pursued by Georgia’s ruling party in recent years. Metropolitan Shio, who was named by Ilia II as his locum tenens in 2017, will assume the late Patriarch’s duties before the election of a new Patriarch by an extended church assembly. Under the Church’s Statute of Administration adopted in 1995, a new Patriarch is elected by an extended church assembly from three candidates nominated by the Holy Synod, no sooner than 40 days and no later than two months after the Patriarch’s passing. Politicians Reflect on Ilia II’s Legacy Both the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition politicians have expressed sadness over the Patriarch’s passing, extending condolences to the parish and noting Ilia II’s legacy in shaping the “epoch.” Georgian Dream party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and his wife, Ekaterine Ivanishvili, said in a statement released by the ruling party that with the passing of Ilia II, “an era has come to an end in the history of our country, an era of a man who carried out, with dignity and tirelessly fulfilled, the difficult, responsible, and at the same time honorable mission of Georgia’s spiritual father. An epoch has ended of a leader who, on numerous occasions, guided us to safety and left a special light in the heart of every citizen of our country.” Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that with the Patriarch’s passing, “a great era has come to an end in the history of our Mother Church and the Georgian state.” He wrote that the period of Ilia II’s patriarchate “coincided with the most difficult, transformative years for our country. Throughout this historical path, he consistently remained the nation’s spiritual leader and a symbol of unity. Through his wisdom, love for others, boundless patience, and capacity for forgiveness, the Patriarch strengthened faith in our hearts.” “The legacy of His Holiness extends beyond the purely ecclesiastical dimension,” Kobakhidze continued. “In the cause of preserving national identity, safeguarding traditions, and consolidating statehood, the contribution of Ilia II is immeasurable. Through selfless service to God, to the homeland, and to humanity, he has forever secured his place among the greatest figures of our centuries-long history.” Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zurabishvili, also paid tribute, saying Ilia II devoted his entire life’s work to three principal goals: “1. Serving God and restoring spirituality in a country where 70 years of Soviet rule had tried and to some extent succeeded in uprooting Christianity. 2. The unity of society. 3. The third goal reflects your profound patriotism and sense of statehood. From the very first days of your enthronement, you ensured that Georgian monasteries would become active along all the country’s borders, as spiritual guardians.” Opposition Ahali Party co-founder Nika Gvaramia also expressed condolences, describing Ilia II as “the man who was loved by the most people in our country, the one whose word carried the greatest weight in Georgia for half a century, the one who was a religious figure, yet was loved not only by his own parish, but also by Georgians of other faiths, by agnostics, and by atheists, the one who was both a spiritual leader and a person with a variety of talents, a creator, a kulturträger.” Civil Society Assess Patriarch’s Legacy Civil society figures also reflected on the Patriarch’s legacy, pointing to his role as a unifying figure while noting the broader societal impact of the Church during his tenure. Former Public Defender of Georgia, Nino Lomjaria, said the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, Ilia II, “was a person around whom the vast majority of society united. For decades, the hopes, faith, and expectations of countless people were bound to his name. Today, as one great historical cycle draws to a close, I join in the grief of the mourning parish and of all Georgia...” Tamta Mikeladze, Director of the Equality Policy Program at the Social Justice Center, said, “The passing of Ilia II is indeed the end of an epoch in Georgia. For many, his figure served as a spiritual anchor, a symbol of stability and identity during periods of profound historical and social transformation.” [...] “At the same time, such a central role for the Church gradually became a specific form of power that was less subject to democratic oversight. During the patriarchate of Ilia II, a model was reinforced in which national identity, Orthodoxy, and statehood became closely intertwined. On the one hand, this fostered a sense of unity, but on the other, it constrained pluralism and reinforced social hierarchies.” Also Read: 18/03/2026 – International Condolences Pour In After Ilia II’s Passing