The Patriarch

The Patriarch of Georgia, His Holiness Ilia II, the most trusted man in this Caucasus nation, wields influence over both the religious and secular life of Georgia. There has been a massive resurgence of the Georgian Orthodox Church since the country’s independence in 1991. As the Orthodox world’s longest serving leader, for over 35 years the Patriarch has led Georgia through Soviet repression, civil wars and its emergence as an independent nation on the world scene. He is also an artist, a respected social thinker and a venerated composer. His moral authority provides a stark contrast to the rampant corruption in the region. Ilia's failing health raises concerns about the future of the Georgian church and the nation as a whole, with no visible successor to take over the role of spiritual and moral leader.