The Georgian Orthodox Church thanked the delegation of the UOC for their support on the death of Patriarch Ilia II

Metropolitan Shio, the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of the Georgian Orthodox Church, expressed official gratitude to the delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) for their fraternal support during the farewell to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. The meeting of representatives of the local Churches was held at the patriarchal residence and was dedicated to strengthening inter-church ties at a time of sorrow for the Georgian people.

According to the press service of the Georgian Patriarchate, on March 23, 2026, Metropolitan Shio held a meeting with the delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which included Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets. The official report of the press service of the Georgian Patriarchate notes that representatives of the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria, Jerusalem and Cyprus also visited the residence. Metropolitan Shio emphasized the special significance of fraternal support from the Ukrainian clergy.

The event was attended by high-ranking hierarchs from the Georgian Church, including Metropolitan Theodore of Akhaltsikhe, Chorebishop of the Catholicos-Patriarch, Metropolitan David of Alaverdi, Metropolitan Savva of Khon, as well as heads of synodal departments and secretariat. The parties discussed the current state of affairs in the Orthodox world and concluded the meeting with a solemn exchange of symbolic gifts. Earlier the official delegation of the UOC took a direct part in the burial ceremony of Patriarch Ilia II.

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