Delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church arrived in Tbilisi to bid farewell to Patriarch Ilia II

on March 21, 2026, an official delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) arrived in Georgia to participate in the events dedicated to the burial of the newly deceased Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. Representatives of the Ukrainian clergy arrived in Tbilisi at the invitation of the Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church to express condolences and pay the last tribute to the deceased Primate.

According to the Information and Education Department of the UOC, the delegation was headed by Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets. In the Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi Metropolitan Sergiy performed a requiem liturgy at the coffin with the body of the deceased Patriarch. The delegation also included Archpriest Vasily Pritz, Secretary of the Department for External Church Relations, and Deacon Maxim Savchuk. On behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the delegates conveyed words of support and sympathy to the clergy and flock of the Georgian Church.

His Holiness Patriarch Ilia II passed away on March 17, 2026 at the age of 93. In connection with this irreparable loss, the Government of Georgia declared a nationwide mourning. In the Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi day and night farewells to the Patriarch are held, which are attended by hundreds of thousands of Orthodox believers from Georgia and other countries. The burial rite of His Holiness is scheduled for March 22 and will be held at the Sioni Cathedral. Earlier Metropolitan Onufry sent official condolences, noting the high spiritual authority of the deceased Primate.

Earlier, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, sent an official condolence letter to Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotskuia, Metropolitan of Senaki, on the death of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.