Patriarch of Georgia: "None of the storms that hit the Church and the nation scared Patriarch Ilias"translated

For the first time after almost half a century, the Church of Georgia celebrated the memory of Prophet Ilias without the physical presence of its spiritual father, Patriarch Ilias II, who was celebrating his names on this day.  With a fervent prayer for the repose of the soul of the blessed Patriarch, his successor, Catholic Patriarch, Mr. Sio III, Hierarchs of the Church of Georgia, the holy clergy and the faithful people gathered yesterday, Sunday, August 2, 2026 - a day on which the old calendar (20/7) commemorates the feast of the Prophet Elias - at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi where a solemn Divine Liturgy was celebrated.

In his sermon, the Primate of the Church of Georgia, in addition to the theological commentary of the Gospel passage, also referred to his great predecessor and spiritual father, blessed Patriarch Ilias II, connecting his personality with great forms of holiness that shone in the Local Church of Georgia and bore the name of Prophet Ilias.

"When we remember the Catholic-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilias II, we will probably all agree that he was distinguished by the virtue of spiritual hearing and always listened to the favorite words...