Hungarian President: Patriarch Ilia II faithfully served both Church and people of Georgia

Hungarian president Tamás Sulyok on Friday expressed his condolences to the Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili following the passing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, praising his decades-long service to the Church and the Georgian people.

In a letter, Sulyok highlighted the legacy of Ilia II as a spiritual leader who guided Georgia through difficult periods, emphasising his role as a defender of faith and Christian values.

“With deep sorrow I learnt of the passing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II. From Hungary, we followed with great respect his nearly half-century of service as the leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church. During this time, he faithfully served both the Church and the state and people of Georgia. In particularly difficult periods, he stood out as a steadfast guardian at the watchpost of faith and the Church. His activity was constantly based on Christian values, the strengthening of the importance of family, and support for large families with many children”, he said.

The president also expressed confidence that despite the significant loss, Ilia II’s spiritual and intellectual legacy would continue to inspire both the Georgian people and the wider Orthodox world.

“I am convinced that, despite this irreplaceable loss, his followers will find strength and consolation in the rich spiritual and intellectual legacy he left to Georgia and the Orthodox world.
Please accept my sincere condolences. I share the grief of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Georgian people”, Sulyok concluded.