The total cost incurred by Georgia’s Ministry of Culture to organize the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II amounted to GEL 722,645, according to information released by the Government Administration of Georgia.
Initially, GEL 3 million was allocated to the Ministry of Culture from the government’s reserve fund under a decree dated March 20, 2026. However, following amendments introduced by a decree on May 8, the amount to be spent was reduced to GEL 722,645, with the remaining GEL 2,277,355 returned to the state budget, the administration said.
No inappropriate spending identified in connection with the Patriarch’s funeral, Kobakhidze says.
Under Protocol No. 1, adopted by the state commission on March 18, the Ministry of Culture was designated as the agency responsible for organizing the funeral. The ministry subsequently signed a total of 26 contracts.
How the allocated funds were spent:
- Sound systems, technical equipment and screens: The largest contract, worth GEL 215,600, was awarded to GeoVoice LLC for sound systems, LED screens and structural installations at Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral and Sioni Cathedral. GT Holding LLC received GEL 133,230 to provide screens and sound equipment in the courtyard of Sameba Cathedral and the surrounding area.
- Funeral reception: Organizing a funeral reception for 600 guests at the Sheraton Hotel, operated by Tbilisi Hotels Holding LLC, cost GEL 93,886.70. The services also included interpretation, sound equipment and microphones.
- Staging and temporary structures: Luma Development LLC was paid GEL 53,624.10 to install a glass podium and set up designated areas for journalists, camera operators and production crews at the churches and in the surrounding areas.
- Accommodation and transportation: A total of GEL 63,280 was paid to HMC Georgia LLC and Discovery LLC to accommodate students from regional folk-singing schools who had traveled to attend the funeral. Several contracts for transportation services, including minibuses and buses, amounted to GEL 22,050.
- Flowers and decorations: A combined GEL 50,600 was spent on floral arrangements inside the churches and along the funeral procession route, with payments made to Floreria LLC and individual entrepreneur Tsira Chkonia. This included GEL 7,850 for decorating an open-top vehicle with flowers.
- Other expenses: The ministry spent GEL 10,150 on wine purchased from Teleda LLC, covering 406 bottles, and GEL 11,362.50 on printing badges, passes and invitations through GGS Print LLC. Another GEL 300 was spent on 10 meters of red velvet fabric. A total of GEL 40,400 went toward ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply and providing generators. Several thousand lari were also spent on live television broadcasting and filming, including the use of drones and a camera crane.
According to the Government Administration, cleaning services at the churches were provided free of charge by Progress Service, Litex-Service and GT Group. Aqua Geo LLC also donated 5,000 half-liter bottles of water to the organizers.
The administration added that several companies provided services at discounted rates, while the director, creative team and performers—including singers and church chanters—worked without receiving fees.
