Metropolitan Shio on Ilia II: Georgia has gained a heavenly protector

Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, on Tuesday said Georgia had gained a “heavenly protector” following the death of Ilia II.

Speaking to journalists outside the Caucasus Medical Centre, Metropolitan Shio announced the Catholicos-Patriarch had passed away moments earlier.

“A few minutes ago, His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, passed away. This epochal person is an immense loss for the entire Orthodox world. I would like to express my condolences to all Georgians and to all of Christendom,” he said.

According to him, Ilia II played a historic role in the revival of faith in Georgia.

“Through him and through his work, God brought Georgia back to the true faith. He was a great builder of our Church, both in the literal and figurative sense,” Bishop Shio said.

He added that while the loss is deeply painful, there is also consolation.

“When such great people leave us, there is also comfort in knowing that the whole of Georgia and each of us has gained a heavenly protector, because he was our father, he is our father and he will always be our father. Our entire conscious life passed during his era — we are his disciples,” he said.

Metropolitan Shio expressed hope that Ilia II’s prayers and spiritual protection would continue to guide the Georgian people and strengthen the country.

“May God rest his soul and may his holy prayers help us all,” he said.