He was hospitalized the day before due to a deterioration in his condition, and he spent his last hours in the intensive care unit of the Caucasian Medical Center.
Patriarch Ilia II had been in office since 1977, which is over 48 years, making his patriarchate the longest in the history of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
First Channel of Georgia emphasizes that thanks to the efforts of Ilia II, the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church was restored, which was officially recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1990.
Mourning has been declared in the country.
