We feel profound pain and sorrow at the passing of the spiritual father of Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, reads the condolence letter from the Honorary Chairman of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and his wife, Ekaterina Ivanishvili.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Georgian Orthodox Church for this great loss.

We extend our condolences, of course, to all of Georgia, to every Georgian, to the entire nation, for in the person of His Holiness and Beatitude, our country and our people have lost an unwavering source of calm, wisdom and faith; a spiritual father who, even in the darkest of times, instilled hope and brought our people together.

Georgia has lost a singular figure, distinguished by paternal care and devotion, who, through his words and deeds, urged every person towards what is better and nobler.

His life and work were, are, and shall remain a symbol of selfless dedication and service to his people and his country.

For half a century, the name of Ilia II was inseparably bound to the defence of faith, tradition, national identity. With his passing, an era has come to a close, the era of a man who fulfilled, with dignity and unflinching resolve, the arduous, weighty, and yet deeply honourable mission of spiritual father to Georgia. It is the end of an era of a shepherd who, more than once, guided us to safety and left a particular light in the heart of every citizen of this country. His goodness, his wisdom and his words shall forever remain in our memory as a testament to what true humility and love, for one’s fellow man and for one’s homeland, truly mean.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to all of Georgia. We share in this profound grief and pray for the repose of his soul. Eternal memory to the soul of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II”, - reads the condolence letter.