The Public Relations Service of the Georgian Patriarchate issues a statement regarding the funeral ceremony of Ilia II:

"The Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral will be closed on March 22 from 02:00 AM to 08:00 AM to organize and prepare for the Liturgy and the funeral ceremony of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, as well as to maintain security standards due to the attendance of international delegations. On Sunday, starting from 8:00 AM, due to objective circumstances beyond our control, admission to the cathedral will be by special pass only, and we ask for your understanding regarding this fact.

The Liturgy will begin at 09:00 AM. The divine service will be performed by the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of All Georgia, Metropolitan Shio [Mujiri] of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, together with the members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church.

At 12:15 PM, His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople - New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, will arrive at the cathedral. Together with the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Shio, and the members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church, he will perform the funeral service [rite of burial] for His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II.

At 03:00 PM, His Holiness and Beatitude, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, will be carried out of the Holy Trinity Patriarchal Cathedral for a funeral procession on foot toward the Sioni Patriarchal Cathedral.

Parishioners who were unable to bid farewell to the Patriarch inside the cathedral will have the opportunity to do so during the funeral procession on the way from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to the Sioni Cathedral. A human corridor will be organized along the route, and the population will also have the chance to follow the entire service via live broadcast on numerous screens installed along the way and, if they wish, pay their respects to His Holiness with flowers.

We apologize and ask for your understanding of the current situation. We understand that every person wants to bid farewell to His Holiness and Beatitude, but due to the protocol related to the funeral ceremony and other technical details, the admission of the public into the cathedral is not possible", - reads the statement.