Georgian Patriarch Ilia II dies at 93

The long-serving Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II, has died at the age of 93, OC Media reported.

Ilia II passed away on Tuesday evening after being admitted into intensive care with abdominal bleeding earlier that day.

Confirming his passing to reporters outside the hospital, Shio Mujiri, the incumbent of the patriarchal throne, hailed the Patriarch’s tenure.

‘He was an epoch-defining figure, and his passing is a great loss for the entire Orthodox world. I would like to extend my condolences to every Georgian, to all of Georgia, to our Church, and to all of Christendom.’

Church spokesperson, Archpriest Jagmaidze, later announced that Ilia II would be laid to rest at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi on Wednesday, where the Patriarchate would make an announcement.

Mujiri will take over the Church until a new patriarch is selected. Mujiri had already taken over day-to-day management of the Church in recent years, as the Patriarch’s health had continued to deteriorate.