The mourning is in connection with the passing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. According to a government decree, state flags will be flown at half-mast on administrative buildings across the country.

Earlier, the Georgian Minister of Health, Mikheil Sardjveladze, issued a statement:

“From the bottom of my heart, I extend my condolences to the Georgian people on this enormous loss, the likes of which I cannot recall in my lifetime. Georgia will be different starting tomorrow. It will be incredibly difficult for all of us without our beloved Patriarch,” he said.

Ilia II served as the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977, making him one of the longest-serving church leaders in the world, as well as one of the oldest bishops in terms of ordination date.

The Patriarch’s condition worsened on Tuesday night. He was admitted to a clinic with massive gastrointestinal bleeding. The death of Patriarch Ilia II was confirmed by the locum tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri.

The decision on a new Patriarch is made by the Holy Synod, which selects three candidates. The expanded council of the Georgian Church then elects the Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia. The expanded council is convened by the locum tenens of the Patriarchal Throne—40 days after the seat becomes vacant, but no later than two months. A candidate is considered elected if they receive more than half of the votes of the bishops participating in the council.

The requirements for a candidate for the Patriarchal throne are strictly regulated. The future Patriarch must be ethnically Georgian and belong to the senior clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Essential qualifications include formal theological education and experience in church administration. The candidate’s age must be between 40 and 70 years. In addition, the candidate must be a representative of the monastic clergy.