Funeral of Patriarch Ilia II Held in Tbilisi
The funeral for Georgian Patriarch Ilia II is underway in Tbilisi. The ceremony is taking place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, which has drawn numerous representatives from various nations. Among the attendees is Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian president's special representative for international cultural cooperation, who arrived in Georgia as part of a Russian delegation. A delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, is also present. The head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, Igor Yakimchuk, announced the ROC delegation's arrival.
Patriarch Ilia II passed away in Tbilisi on March 17 at the age of 93. He became the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church in 1977, serving in this role for 46 years. On the night of March 16-17, Ilia II was taken to the Caucasus Medical Center, where doctors diagnosed a massive gastrointestinal internal hemorrhage.
Death of Patriarch Filaret in Kyiv
Simultaneously, Patriarch Filaret (Mykhailo Denysenko) of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine has died in Kyiv. He passed away on March 20 at the age of 97. His burial took place on 22.03.2026, and a memorial liturgy for his funeral was held at the Volodymyr Cathedral in Kyiv. The service at St. Michael's Cathedral on March 22 was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius.
The passing of these two prominent religious leaders, Ilia II and Filaret, underscores the significant role of religious leadership in the modern world. Both patriarchs played key roles in shaping the spirituality and cultural identity of their nations, and their influence on society remains potent. These events also raise new questions about the future of religious institutions in Ukraine and Georgia, two nations with complex historical ties to Russia. Their deaths mark the end of an era and may prompt discussions on the future direction of Orthodox Christianity in the region.
The passing of both Patriarch Ilia II and Patriarch Filaret highlights the profound impact of these leaders on their respective faith communities. To understand the legacy of Ilia II, who guided the Georgian Orthodox Church for nearly half a century, you can read more about his life and influence in our detailed article on his remarkable tenure here.