The passing of a righteous man carries its own consolation, and we have been witnesses to a true miracle - all of Georgia rose to its feet and stirred, to pay homage, to give thanks, to show its love for Ilia II. Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) / Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne declared in a sermon delivered at Sioni Cathedral.

He extended his congratulations to the people on the Day of the Restoration of the Autocephaly of the Georgian Church, and spoke of the labours of Ilia II in that cause.

"Today we stand in this holy Cathedral of Sioni, filled with deep reverence and gratitude towards our holy Patriarchs and ancestors, those who would not accept, who never accepted, the loss of Autocephaly. Through their self-sacrifice, their toil, and at the cost of their greatest efforts, they restored and returned to our country and our Church the ancient, historic Autocephaly that had once been its own. These were the holy Catholicos-Patriarchs Kirion, Ambrosi, Kalistrate, Leonide, Kristepore, Melkisedek, Eprem, and others, both clergy and laity, among them Metropolitan Anton Giorgadze and many more. The Catholicos-Patriarchs rest here, in this holy cathedral, and beside them, their worthy heir and the continuer of their work, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, has now found his eternal resting place. As the Gospel says, all can see how his works shine before men, that we may glorify our Father in Heaven.

These have been days of the deepest grief for us. And yet we know that when a holy and righteous person departs this life, consolation and even joy accompany that passing. We waited to see how this would manifest. And we have been witnesses to a true miracle, all of Georgia rose to its feet and moved towards the remains of His Holiness and Beatitude, to venerate, to give thanks, to express its love. There was a wondrous unity, a love for God and a love for him personally. For in him, our people glorify the Church and glorify God; it is to God that they give thanks. This outpouring of love and unity gives us great spiritual strength and consolation to carry us through these hardest of days. It also gives us great hope that, with God`s help, we shall be able to preserve those great values bequeathed to us by our great Patriarchs and forebears, above all, what His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia left to us as his legacy: true faith in God, fidelity to the homeland, and love for one`s fellow man. If we preserve these things, if we strive and labour for their sake, the Lord will surely come to our aid and grant us the strength to preserve both our ecclesiastical Autocephaly and our national independence, and to see our country made whole and strong once more", - said Metropolitan Shio.