We are bidding farewell to the Patriarch who laid the foundation for the golden age of the revival of our Mother Church. At such a time, while saying goodbye to the Patriarch, it is impossible not to feel with full intensity the words of the great Georgian poet: "All our ancestors have departed", and in this moment, it is impossible not to be overcome by a sharp sense of being orphaned, the Prime Minister of Georgia said this at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

As he added, the only thing that can alleviate this feeling is the belief that His Holiness will strengthen our homeland and the Mother Church through his prayers from Heavenly Georgia.

"I offer my condolences to all of Georgia. Today is a day filled with immense pain for each of us. Today, a great era has come to an end.

We are bidding farewell to our most beloved Patriarch, our spiritual father, who dedicated his entire life to the service of the homeland and the Mother Church.

At the same time, this day is also one of exaltation for every believing Georgian. Today, we can feel the greatness of our Patriarch with particular intensity and remind ourselves with pride how great a nation must be to give birth to such a figure.

The early years of His Holiness and Beatitude`s ministry coincided with the golden age of Georgian culture. The Georgian figures of that era were creating a new creative treasury, enriching the spirituality of our country and people. His Holiness and Beatitude added a new dimension to this work and transformed it into the strengthening of the Christian faith. Over the past years, many figures have passed into Heavenly Georgia - an entire generation that made a distinguished contribution to creating the golden age of Georgian culture. And today, we bid farewell to the Patriarch who laid the foundation for the golden age of the revival of our Mother Church.

At such a time, while bidding farewell to the Patriarch, it is impossible not to feel with full intensity the words of the great Georgian poet: "All our ancestors have departed", and in this moment, it is impossible not to be overcome by a sharp sense of being orphaned. The only thing that can alleviate this feeling is the belief that His Holiness remains with us and will strengthen our homeland and our Mother Church through his prayers from Heavenly Georgia. When I think of the Patriarch and his ministry, another line from the same poem by the great Georgian poet comes to mind: "A gentle breeze spread across the field, and in its depths, I see the image of an old father, an old father walking in the vineyard with pruning shears in hand".

This image of the old father will remain in our memory forever. We will often remember His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II as the old father who tends to his most precious vineyard, how he cares for the Mother Church, his homeland, and each spiritual child. We thank His Holiness and Beatitude for his ministry, for his immense labor, and for his immeasurable love. May God bless the soul of His Holiness and Beatitude, Ilia II; may God bless and protect our Mother Church and our homeland", - said Irakli Kobakhidze.