six of their eight young children died in the local school hostage drama that shocked the nation, their Christian mission organization confirmed Wednesday, September 8.
An official of the U.S. backed Russian Ministries said that brothers and pastors Taymuraz and Sergey Totiev from the Evangelical Baptist Church in Beslan were till the last moment "still hoping" to find their children alive.
"Tragically, out of the eight Totiev children who were in the school, only two have survived," said Russian Ministries Vice President Sergey N. Rakhuba in a statement obtained by BosNewsLife.
The children of Taymuraz and Ria Totiev who were killed were identified as Larissa, 14, Luba, 12, Albina, 11, and Boris, who was 8 years old. "A daughter named Magina was found, released from the hospital, and is recovering at home," he added.
He said the children of Sergey and Bela Totiev who died were Dzerassa, 15, and 9 year old Anna. "A son named Azamat, 12 years old, is in the hospital and is being treated for a severe eye injury," he explained.
GUN BATTLE
They are believed to have died Friday, September 3, during a gun battle between Russian forces storming the school complex and militants demanding independence for neighboring Chechnya.
News about the deaths came after two days of National Mourning in Russia. While thousands of people gathered in the town square in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russian Ministries led a prayer meeting on the front lawn of its office building in Wheaton, Illinois.
Rakhuba said two colleagues traveled to Beslan to take part in the memorial service in front of the homes of the Totievs’, who are neighbors. "Between 1,500 and 2,000 people gathered in front of their homes, including many Christians who came from other areas to support the Totievs’ who are loved very much," the Russian Ministries team said in an Internet message from Beslan.
"SHINING LIGHTS"
Neighbors of the Totiev family reportedly told the parents "with tears" in their eyes, "You lost your children, but we feel like they were our children too. They were shining lights on our street", apparently referring to what Russian Ministries called "their good behavior and helpful spirit."
As others in the crowd began cursing and vowed to take revenge against "the terrorists", Pastor Sergey Totiev, who lost two children in the siege, stood up at the end of the service and reportedly said: "Yes, we have an irreplaceable loss, but we cannot take revenge. As Christians, the Bible teaches us that we must forgive. Vengeance is in God’s hands."
The Russian Ministries team described it as "the most powerful sermon and witness that has perhaps ever been heard in that community." It said "the crowd was very moved by what Pastor Totiev said. Truly the Totiev children who were killed are still shining lights in their community even as they lay in their caskets."
REWARD OFFERED
Reports of Pastor Totiev’s appeal against revenge came as the Kremlin offered more than $10 million for information which it said would help "neutralize" two well-known rebel leaders from breakaway Chechnya accused of planning the school hostage standoff, news agencies said Wednesday, September 8.
At least 326 people have died, officials said, although medical workers have warned the final death toll could be closer to 400.
The reports of the reward came a day after Russians got a horrific glimpse of the drama from video footage allegedly filmed by the militants who captured the school in southern Russia. Clearly thirsty people could be seen in an overcrowded school gymnasium, surrounded by wired explosives.
Tens of thousands of people turned out at a government-backed rally in Moscow to condemn the terrorists and demand justice, after the Kremlin made an indirect apology over the weekend for the way it handled the hostage crisis, including giving out misinformation by reducing the number of hostages held inside the school, political analysts said.
TERROR RELIEF FUND
Russian Ministries said it has established a Terror Relief Fund "to help provide spiritual and physical help for the people of Beslan," and stressed that "all donations made will go directly to the Beslan community."
"No administrative fees will be deducted. A committee overseeing distribution of aid has already formed and will provide full accountability," stressed official Rakhuba , referring to criticism that aid funds of other organizations are sometimes mishandled.
He said donations can be made online via the Internet at website: http://www.russian-ministries.org or mailed directly to Russian Ministries at: P.O. Box 496, Wheaton, IL 60189.
Russian Ministries said it will encourage Sunday School groups and Bible study meetings as well as other Christians "to help the Beslan community recover from this brutal attack."
