The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, has expressed his heartfelt condolences following the passing of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.

In his letter of condolence, Simonyan acknowledged Ilia II as a steadfast pillar of faith and a fountain of profound wisdom for the Georgian people and the nation.

“It is with great sorrow that we learn of the death of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II. On behalf of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, and personally, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to you and our colleagues in the Parliament of Georgia. He was a beacon of faith and a source of immense wisdom for the Georgian people and the state. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” the letter reads, sent to the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili.

Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, passed away on March 17 at the age of 93. A period of mourning has been declared across Georgia in honour of his memory. His funeral is scheduled for March 22 at the Sioni Cathedral.