Metropolitan Longin of Bancheni arrived in Tbilisi to bid farewell to Patriarch Ilia II

The hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Longin of Banchena, has arrived in the Georgian capital to take part in a farewell ceremony for Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. The mourning events are taking place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where the hierarch shared the grief of the Georgian people over the irreplaceable loss.

As reported on the page of the Banchen Monastery of the UOC in Facebook, the vicar of the Chernivtsi diocese arrived in Tbilisi on March 21, 2026. Earlier, Metropolitan Longin on the official Facebook page of the Banchen Monastery expressed his condolences, noting that he took the news of the passing of the Primate of the Georgian Church with “deep sorrow and sincere pain in his heart.”

Vladyka emphasized that the death of Patriarch Ilia II was a great loss not only for Georgia, but also for the entire Orthodox world. In his address, Metropolitan Longin pointed out that “His Holiness’ many years of archpastoral service was a shining example of faith, humility, wisdom and boundless love for God and neighbors”. The Hierarch also offered prayers for the granting of strength to the faithful to bear this heavy loss and for the repose of the departed soul in the cloisters of the righteous. Recall that earlier the Synod of the Georgian Church held a special meeting dedicated to the organization of the farewell to the Primate.

Recall that on March 21, 2026 the 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. The delegation was headed by Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets.