Patriarch Ilia II dies – level 2
24-03-2026 07:00
Ilia II, the head of the Georgian Church, died last week. He was 93 years old. He led the church for a very long time, since 1977. At that time, it was hard to practice religion in Georgia, which belonged to the Soviet Union.
But Ilia II worked hard, and the church became very strong. Many people in the country loved and respected him. He helped the country when there were big problems or fights between politicians. He was a calm leader who wanted peace for everyone. The church says he was a very important person in history.
Now, the church must choose a new leader in two months. People in Georgia are very sad because they lost their spiritual leader. He was like a father to many people in Georgia.
Difficult words: church (a large religious organization with its own rules), respect (to like someone because they are good, kind, or have an important job), spiritual leader (a person who shows others how to live according to their religion and helps them feel good).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
What challenges did Ilia II face when he began leading the Georgian Church in 1977?
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