A Godfather of His Country
Patriarch Ilia II, who revived Georgia’s ancient Church and became godfather to nearly 50,000 children, died at 93 after 49 historic years of leadership.
On March 17, 2026, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, reposed in the Lord. His death marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in the history of the Georgian people and Orthodox Christians around the world.
Having led the Church of Georgia since his election in December 1977, Ilia’s nearly 49-year tenure stands as the longest in its recorded history. Born Irakli Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili in Vladikavkaz in 1933, he emerged from the shadows of Soviet atheism to lead a spiritual and national renewal.
He assumed his office at a time when the Georgian Orthodox Church was severely diminished by decades of communist persecution, with only a handful of active parishes and clergy. Yet, even before the collapse of the Soviet Union, he worked discreetly to preserve traditions and institutions.
Post-independence, the transformation was dramatic. Under his guidance, the number of dioceses grew substantially. Hundreds of churches and monasteries were reopened or constructed. Thousands of clergy were ordained. Educational institutions such as the Tbilisi Spiritual Academy and St. Andrew the First-Called Georgian University were established, fostering a new generation of theologians. The publication of the Bible in contemporary Georgian language in 1989 was a landmark achievement, enriching both faith and national culture.
Ilia’s legacy extends far beyond church walls. He became a steadfast advocate for Georgian sovereignty and identity during critical junctures. In April 1989, he stood alongside protesters in Tbilisi, calling for peace amid Soviet crackdowns. Throughout the 1990s, he mediated in civil conflicts and provided moral leadership during economic hardship and the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. The 2002 concordat with the state enshrined the Church’s privileged role in education and public life. These reforms were widely popular: polls showed that, thanks to Ilia’s leadership, the Orthodox Church had become the most trusted institution in the country.
A defender of traditional Orthodox values, Ilia emphasized family, morality, and cultural continuity in a rapidly changing world. He fostered a closer relationship between the Georgian Church and Mount Athos; he promoted the veneration of local Georgian saints. He was outspoken in his support for “conservative” Orthodox views on morality helped to lead a revival of traditional values after the fall of Communism. Internationally, he navigated ecumenical relations cautiously while safeguarding Georgian autocephaly.
Patriarch Ilia deeply revered Gabriel Urgebadze, the beloved fool-for-Christ and confessor. St. Gabriel, in turn, was devoted to Ilia. He kept a portrait of the Patriarch in his cell and would kiss it reverently, declaring, “No one has a patriarch like ours!” Ilia lived to canonize his friend in 2012 and to allocate land for a church dedicated to the newly glorified St. Gabriel of Georgia.
In 2007, the Patriarch came up with a novel solution to Georgia’s population collapse: he promised to personally baptize, and stand as godfather to, every third and subsequent child born to married Orthodox couples. Starting with mass baptisms in January 2008 at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, the practice grew into regular events (often several per year). Families, deeply revering the Patriarch, responded enthusiastically. Many have credited his offer with inspiring them to have larger families. In the end, Ilia baptized nearly 50,000 babies.
Georgia has a population of just under 5 million. That means Ilia was godfather to exactly 1% of the country. Such a personal bond between a Patriarch and his people has never existed in the history of the Church. Most likely, it never will again.
May the memory of this faithful shepherd be eternal. May the fire of his love for the Holy Orthodox Church live on in the hearts of his godchildren, and of all the God-protected Georgian people.
