“A distinguished representative of our generation, Mr. Eldar Shengelaia, has left this temporal world and become a resident of eternity,” states the condolence letter from His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
The Catholicos-Patriarch notes that “his legacy will remain in this world – his glorious films, which in various ways will always remind society of the truth that life’s real meaning lies in serving good.”
“Mr. Eldar, like a great portion of those who lived through the atheist period, experienced a difficult inner life, compounded by the most painful ordeal of separation from his daughter. This great pain and search for life’s meaning led him to God and made him a believing Christian. Nothing is more significant in a person’s life than this,” the condolence letter states.
The legendary director, who died on August 4 at age 92, will be laid to rest at Didube Pantheon following the 2:00 PM service. He will be buried alongside his parents, renowned actress Nato Vachnadze and director Nikoloz Shengelaia, as well as his brother, filmmaker Giorgi Shengelaia.