The New York Times assessed the role of Patriarch Ilia II in the formation of modern Georgia

The American edition of The New York Times has published an article dedicated to the memory of the late Patriarch-Catholicos of All Georgia Ilia II. The article emphasizes that the late Primate was a «spiritual symbol of stability» in the country and during his nearly fifty years of ministry he turned the Georgian Orthodox Church into a powerful public institution and the foundation of national identity.

According to Orthodoxia News Agency, citing an American publication, thousands of believers gathered in Tbilisi to see the Patriarch off. The procession went from the Patriarchate building to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the largest church in the country. The authors of the publication note that Ilia II provided a sense of spiritual support during the most difficult periods of Georgia’s history: from the post-Soviet economic collapse of the 1990s to the military conflict of 2008.

The article pays particular attention to the extent of the church revival. In 1977, when Ilia II led the Church, there were only a few dozen churches operating in Georgia. «Ilia II made the Church the most influential and respected institution, achieving its expansion and international recognition,» the piece emphasizes. It also notes his significant role in supporting the national anti-communist movement in the late 1980s, when the Patriarch often acted as a defender of its leaders.