Create beauty with every day you are given. After that, it all gets turned over to God. Nunes, who was born in Brazil but lived in Australia when he met Gilbert, is 17 years older than Gilbert. We will walk together as far as we can go together. In a new Instagram post, Gilbert shared that she participated in a love ceremony with her terminally ill girlfriend, Rayya Elias, who has incurable pancreatic and liver cancer. “(It was) just a quiet and private celebration of what we have long known to be true: We belong to each other,” she continued. A simple and spontaneous ceremony of love, surrounded by a small handful of friends and family.”Įlizabeth was quick to add that the ceremony was “nothing legally binding”, but represented the pair pledging themselves to one another.

She also confirmed that her romance with Rayya, who was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer last year, was also the reason she called time on her nine-year marriage to Nunes - the inspiration behind her 2006 global bestseller.Īnd it appears Elizabeth and Rayya’s relationship is going from strength to strength, judging by a photograph shared on Instagram on Tuesday.Īlongside a picture of herself and Rayya gazing lovingly at each other, Elizabeth wrote: “Over the last year, Rayya Elias and I have been through some really difficult days together - but not today. Elizabeth Gilberts partner and best friend of 15 years, Rayya Elias, passed away in January 2018. The writer separated from her husband Jose Nunes in summer 2016 and confirmed her relationship with fellow author Rayya, her best friend of 15 years, just two months later. Rayya Elias and Elizabeth Gilbert were in a relationship for 2 years before Rayya Elias died aged 57. Manage Print Subscription / Tax ReceiptĮat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert celebrated her relationship with Rayya Elias with a “ceremony of love” on Tuesday.

Elizabeth gilbert and rayya