Beslan Hostage Crisis still leaves city reeling; Christians offer aid and prayers

Moscow, Russia – Even though more than a week has passed ever since the hostage crisis in Beslan got over, many are yet to recover from the horror of seeing their innocent children being butchered by the militants who took over the Russian school and brought the entire nation into standstill. However, many Christians have come forward with prayers and humanitarian aids and helping those who lost their beloved ones during the siege and are hoping that the Holy Spirit will work through them all and comfort them.

“I have just returned from Beslan city. It is hard for me to keep back my tears. Beslan now is a city of pain, sufferings and unceasing funerals,” said Rev. Igor Y. Nikitin, President of the Association of Christian Churches in Russia.

The Beslan hostage crisis left more than 334 dead (156 of them children), about 200 missing and hundreds more wounded. It is recorded as one of the worst acts of terrorism in the world.

“We arrived at Beslan and were met by the ministers of Beslan church – Pastor Murat and brother Tariel. At last immediately we found ourselves at the cemetery, which had just appeared near the airport."

“Children’s faces were on the photos...at many graves there were gathered people, crying at the top of their voices,” Rev. Nikitin said.

“We approached the grave of two girls of Totievs' family: Annushka and Liuba. Nearby there were dug four holes. A woman was staying near their grave and crying. It was Irina Dzhioeva, a member of Sergey Totiev's church. She guided us to the next grave, where her nine–year–old son Arthur was buried. He’d died with girls together.”

Sister Irina spent all three days in the occupied school with children, he said.

“It’s impossible to describe with words the pain in her eyes at her every remembrance about the school. This is the pain of a whole Osetin nation, which suffered from different wars for many years. After a while we came with Irina to the destroyed school. Neither wreath nor flowers but opened bottles filled with water horrify most of all.”

“Irina said that the hardest moment came at the third day when children loosing consciousness from strain and pain, having squatted for three days, were not given water,” the Reverend tearfully explained.

“Many drank urine at the third day… Despite death fear, Irina reached a tap with water and gave some water to her sons Arthur and Mark. It was also forbidden for the hostages to speak. She saw some children Christians she knew, who put hands showing ‘we're praying.’ She comforted her neighbors there. She covered her little son Mark with her body, saying ‘If we die, we will see our Lord Jesus very soon.’ Mark answered: ‘I know, but I want to see my father very much.’”

“They were laying under a kind of a table, covered with some bloody cloth and felt that somebody's blood flew by their legs. Terrorists placed children in open windows and made them shout, ‘Do not shoot me, do not shoot.’ The only possible thing for them to do there was pray and hope that God intervenes.”

“Now Dzhioev's family walks through their village, praying for all survived in the school, comforts them, because God interferes and gives peace to the hearts in the worst circumstances. Christians are ministering here day and night, praying and comforting the people,” Rev. Nikitin said.

Pastor Murat said: “We will build here a Christian center for ministering all the people around.”

“They have already started building it,” Rev. Nikitin added.

“While we were walking through the school remains and listening to the story of sister Irina Gioeva about all that horror she and her children went through, it is hard to imagine that people can live with it. Glory be to God Almighty Who gives consolation in the hardest times. This woman comforts other people now.”

Rev. Nikitin disclosed that he was “shaken and amazed by their (Pastor Teimuraz and Sergei Totiev) courage in the Lord, how these strong men, barely holding their own tears, give comforting words to other people, who come to them.”

“They don't ask the question ‘Why did this happen to us?’ and don't blame anyone.”

Pastor Sergei says: “I believe that Christians of different denominations should be united through this tragedy; their disagreements and pride should be destroyed.”

“I agree with them: we Christians should come away from this place with the most important lesson – our Savior Jesus Christ has suffered for each one of us and for all of us together on the Calvary Cross. This trip became for me a tremendous blessing because of the time I spent with these great men of God.”

“A smile from Madina, who was in the school and lost her brothers and sisters, became a greatest reward for me,” Rev. Nikitin said.

“To see that Azamat is at home now and playing desk hockey. There is a desire to make everything to restore his lost eye. I'd like to make everything to help these children to forget how they were used as a living shields, how they spent three days on the school floor, having no possibility to walk, talk, being thirsty and starving. To help them to forget how terrorists sprinkled them with sulfur so that they could instantly take fire if explosion arrives.”

“The most we can do for them now to pray for those who are alive. Unfortunately, the Government cannot help a lot. The families said they received financial assistance for funerals only. We all are accounted before the Lord for everything we do. I am thankful to all churches, dear brothers and sisters who sent their help for the Totievs' family and to other victims in Beslan. I gave all my money what I had with me to help them, but how we can comfort relatives of Dzera Sedahova? She was a teacher of Sunday School, on Wednesday we were present at the funeral of Dzera before we departed from Beslan,” Rev. Nikitin said.

“Please, remember in your prayers the children who died and who are still alive,” He concluded.

Besides Rev. Nikitin, many others are lending hands to help out those who have undergone the tragedy. A team from Calvary Chapel, Jerusalem, will accompany its pastor, Bradley Antolovich to Beslan, Russia this week. They will bring an offering, humanitarian aid, and Russian Bibles to the people affected by the terror attack in the Beslan school.

“In light of Russian President Putin’s announcement that a military attack against Chechen rebels is inevitable, and the declaration of responsibility for the attacks by Chechen warlord Basayev. We could potentially be entering a dangerous environment,” Antolovich confided.

“Our team of five including three Calvary Chapel Pastors have departed on Monday. We have been granted humanitarian visas free of charge by the Russian Consulate and God has provided accommodations as well as transportation in Moscow and Vladikavkaz,” he said.

While in Beslan, the team will be visiting victims’ and survivors’ homes and local hospitals, government agencies, and churches in hopes to provide assistance and comfort to those who so desperately need it right now.