To His Eminence Metropolitan SHIO of Senaki and Chkhorotsku
of the Georgian Orthodox Church

Your Eminence!

We received the news of the passing of my dear friend, my brother, the wise elder of the Caucasus—His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II—with feelings of immense sadness.
On behalf of the Caucasus Muslims Board, the Supreme Religious Council of the Caucasian Peoples, and all the religious people of the Caucasus, we express our deepest condolences to the people of Georgia and the Georgian Orthodox Church.
His Holiness Ilia II, who made great practical efforts for the deepening of traditional friendly relations and religious-spiritual ties between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Georgia, and for an atmosphere of peace and understanding in the region, was an extremely valuable religious figure for all religious people of the Caucasus and a religious leader who served as an example through his peace-loving activities. Regardless of national or religious affiliation, His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II will remain in the hearts and memories of all people as a tireless messenger of the holy ideals commanded by the Supreme Creator.
The radiant memory of His Holiness Ilia II, who always won the respect and love of people through his continuous activities for the sake of peace, interreligious dialogue, and cooperation in the Caucasus, will live in our hearts forever. I share the grief of the loss of His Holiness Ilia II—a great friend of the Azerbaijani people who, through his long life and half-century of spiritual activity, was an example of worthy service to the Supreme Creator and his people for millions—with you and all the friendly and brotherly people of Georgia, and I offer my condolences with deep sorrow.
May the soul of His Holiness Ilia II be happy and his abode be paradise!

With deep sorrow,

Sheikh-ul-Islam
Allahshukur PASHAZADE