Large crowds of Georgians, including clergy and officials, joined a procession on March 18 to pay their respects to Ilia II, a day after he passed away at the age of 93. A choir sang chants as a hearse carried his casket through the streets of Tbilisi, with thousands walking alongside.

The body of the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church was transferred from the Patriarchate to lie in state at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, where memorial services will begin on March 19. He will be laid to rest on Sunday, March 22, at Tbilisi’s Sioni Cathedral.

Procession carries the body of the deceased Patriarch into the yard of Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, March 18, 2026. Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.geA clergyman carrying the late Patriarch’s black klobuk during the procession, March 18, 2026. Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.geCrowds at the Holy Trinity Cathedral filming the arrival of the procession carrying the casket with the Patriarch’s body, March 18, 2026. Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.ge

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Metropolitan Shio, Patriarchal Locum Tenens, walking alongside Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of Georgia’s disputed parliament, March 18, 2026. Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.geA hearse displaying the portrait of the late Patriarch, March 18, 2026. Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.gePatriarch’s body transferred to the hearse, March 18, 2026. Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.geCrowds carrying the casket with the late Patriarch’s body on the stairs of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, March 18, 2026, Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.geCrowds waiting for the late Patriarch’s body to be carried out of the Patriarchate, March 18, 2026. Photo: Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.ge

Also Read:

• 18/03/2026 – ‘End of Epoch’ – Georgia Mourns Patriarch
• 18/03/2026 – International Condolences Pour In After Ilia II’s Passing