Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II has fallen asleep in the Lord. He was a man of an epoch, said a few minutes ago Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku (Mujiri), Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne.

"It is very hard for me now to find the words I ought to say to you. Just a few minutes ago, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, fell asleep in the Lord. He was a man of an epoch, and his loss is immeasurable for the Orthodox Church worldwide. I wish to offer my condolences to every Georgian, to all of Georgia, to our Church, and to all of Christendom.

He created a whole epoch. It is very difficult to speak of him in just a few words - such is the greatness of the person of whom we speak.

Through him, through his labours, God brought Georgia back to the true faith. He was a great builder of our Church, both in the literal sense of that word and in the spiritual, and our grief is profound", - said Metropolitan Shio.