In Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II has passed away at the age of 94, having led the Georgian Orthodox Church for over four decades. This was announced by the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri.
This is reported by Finway
Biography and Service of Ilia II
Ilia II, born Irakli Gudushauri-Shiolashvili, was born on January 4, 1933, in Vladikavkaz (then known as Ordzhonikidze). After completing his secondary education, he entered the Moscow Spiritual Seminary and later continued his studies at the spiritual academy. On April 16, 1957, at the age of 24, he took monastic vows and received the name Ilia.
On December 23, 1977, the XII Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church took place at the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. At that time, the Bishop of Sukhumi and Abkhazia, Ilia Shiolashvili, was elected as the head of the church. He received the title of His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi Ilia II. Later, the title was expanded to include Metropolitan of Pitsunda, Sukhumi, and Abkhazia.
Contribution to the Development of the Church
“Ilia II has been the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977 – he has one of the longest tenures as head of a church in the world and is also one of the oldest bishops by date of ordination.”
Patriarch Ilia II became a symbol of spiritual unity for the Georgian people, and his work had a significant impact on the development of the church both within Georgia and beyond its borders. He left behind a great spiritual legacy and was an example of selfless service.