On Wednesday, 25 March 2026, the programme Pirg on Radio Glas of the Eparchy of Niš was dedicated to the blessedly reposed Patriarch-Catholicos of Tbilisi and All Georgia, Ilia. Speaking about the wondrous patriarchal ministry, which lasted half a century, and about the great missionary labours of the newly reposed Georgian Patriarch Ilia, was catechist Branislav Ilić. The conversation was conducted by Boban Kocev, journalist of Radio Glas.
“Our generation is blessed because with our own eyes we have witnessed the wondrous deeds of great hierarchs who, by the grace of God, became restorers of human souls, and often, in a certain sense, resurrectors of ecclesial life. There were such examples in our Local Church, and we also remember the great Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios (Yannoulatos), a wondrous shepherd; and in these days we are contemplating the marvellous fruits of the patriarchal ministry of the blessedly reposed Georgian Patriarch Ilia. In his ministry, Patriarch Ilia reached many thousands of people and planted in their hearts the seed of evangelical love. He baptised more than 50,000 children, becoming their godfather (vospriemnik),” said the guest on the Pirg programme.
“The very presence of hundreds of thousands of people, who prayerfully waited to venerate his body and pay him honour, confirms the truth of the words that Patriarch Ilia was one of the most significant primates of the contemporary era. The presence of representatives of all the Local Orthodox Churches, and especially the presence of their primates—the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria, Archbishop Sava of Poland, Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and John of Albania—testifies to the pan-Orthodox esteem enjoyed by Patriarch Ilia and to his contribution to the unity of the Orthodox Church throughout the world,” Branislav concluded.
Source: Riznica Portal
