The Head of the Public Relations Service of the Georgian Patriarchate, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, has stated that the order issued and published by Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II approximately nine years ago should be regarded as his testament.
Speaking to journalists, Jagmaidze said the Patriarch’s passing became a shared national grief that united people beyond personal differences. At the same time, he noted that the mourning period was accompanied by the spread of politically motivated misinformation, which contributed to divisions within society.
He emphasized that although many people were unable to attend the funeral services—despite the Holy Trinity Cathedral being open around the clock—everyone still has the opportunity to visit the Patriarch’s grave and pay their respects.
Jagmaidze also noted that no announcements have yet been made regarding a session of the Holy Synod, as the Church remains in a state of mourning while simultaneously handling extensive organizational responsibilities.
Reflecting on recent days, he called for unity and restraint, stressing that attempts to politicize events surrounding the Patriarch’s death are deeply regrettable. He urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information, including what he described as false reports regarding a liturgy by the Ecumenical Patriarch, and encouraged citizens to rely on official sources for accurate information.
Addressing questions about the existence of a will, Jagmaidze said that Ilia II had effectively expressed his will during his lifetime by naming his successor. He recalled that following the Patriarch’s announcement in November 2017, he personally recorded Ilia II’s remarks, in which the Patriarch sought to put an end to speculation surrounding a written testament.
Jagmaidze claimed that the Patriarch had publicly clarified what should be understood as his will, precisely to prevent further rumors and controversy. “Therefore, we must consider that the order that the Patriarch wrote and published about nine years ago is a will,” he stated.
Under the statute governing the Georgian Orthodox Church, in the event of the Patriarch’s death, the Church is led by the Locum Tenens appointed by the Patriarch until a new Patriarch is elected. If no such figure has been designated, the senior-most hierarch by ordination assumes the role and, in the presence of the Holy Synod, opens the Patriarch’s will and announces the identity of the Locum Tenens.
Following the death of Ilia II, the Holy Synod reaffirmed Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) as Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, though no reference was made to the Patriarch’s will.
Image source: Netgazeti
