“All-Holiness, High Priests, Dear Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, and Sisters, the moment has come to deliver the remains of our beloved spiritual leader, father, and Catholicos-Patriarch, Ilia II, to the ossuary of the Holy Cathedral of Sioni,” announced the  Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, Shio Mujiri, in the Cathedral of Sioni.

According to Shio Mujiri, Patriarch Ilia II held a special connection with the Cathedral of Sioni, as it was here that his 49-year patriarchate, his apostolic service, and his path of dedication began.

“It was in this sacred temple that many ideas were conceived—ideas that His Holiness and Beatitude later brought to life, bringing great good to our country and the Church. These works were guided by the grace of the saints, and among them, by the patriarchs canonized through his initiative and merit.

All of this shaped his special bond with the Sioni Cathedral, the Patriarchal Cathedral, which is why he wished to be laid to rest in this holy temple. Today, our hearts are full of emotion, and our feelings overflow into words. We all wish to express our love, devotion, and gratitude. Perhaps the most important thing we can do now is to ask forgiveness from His Holiness and Beatitude for everything we could not fulfill, for the moments we fell short, we have done wrong and for the things we could not accomplish as he would have wished. He wanted and blessed us in all things,” said Shio Mujiri.