The funeral procession of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II is moving from the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi to Sioni Cathedral.

The funeral service for the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia began at 09:00 at the Trinity Cathedral.

The ceremony was attended by His Holiness Bartholomew I, who, together with the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, and members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, performed the burial service.

Following the service, the Ecumenical Patriarch, along with the President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Honorary Chairman of the Georgian Dream, addressed the congregation. Representatives of various religious denominations, members of the diplomatic corps, and international delegations were also in attendance.

Ilia II will be laid to rest today at Sioni Cathedral. From the moment of his repose there until the burial, funeral bells will ring in all functioning churches across Georgia.

A ceremonial corridor has been arranged from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to Sioni Cathedral in honor of the Patriarch, with members of the defense forces standing in formation holding flags.