#Georgia #Sakartvelo – The Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II, has died at the age of 93. He had served as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and spiritual leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church since December 25, 1977 (nearly 49 years).
Recent reports from earlier today (March 17, 2026) mentioned he was hospitalized with serious health issues, including being placed on a ventilator due to conditions like stomach bleeding and unstable hemodynamics.
Image: Ilia II of Georgia official portrait from 2004.
