On Tuesday, Russian people commemorate those who died in the Beslan school siege in North Ossetia 40 days ago. 330 people died in the terrorist attack, including 172 children. Fifteen bodies remain unidentified, RTR reported.

A memorial service was held at the St. George Cathedral, the main place of worship in the North Ossetian capital Vladikavkaz. The service was led by Bishop Feofan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz. North Ossetian President Alexander Dzasokhov attended the memorial service.

After the service, Bishop Feofan addressed the congregation urging them to remain calm at this difficult time. Despite all the pain and the loss of the loved ones, all those affected by the tragedy should not lose courage, he said.

Memorial services were held in Orthodox churches across the country, including at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, expressed support to the relatives of the Beslan victims. “Only human sympathy, compassion and prayers, can give strength to live further, overcoming the pain of the loss,” the Patriarch said.

In Beslan, the relatives and friends of those killed in the school siege, were coming to the gym of the school, where most of the hostages were held, the BBC’s correspondent in Beslan reported. Hostage survivors also came to the school. The floor of the building was covered with flowers. People also bring bottles with water – a grim reminder that the hostages were denied water.

Earlier, many experts expressed concern that chaotic acts of revenge could start in North Ossetia after 40 days of mourning. Some didn’t rule out that the Ossetian-Ingush conflict could resume. Many local residents are convinced that the school attackers’ goal was to rekindle the ethnic conflict, and they realize that every possible measure should be taken to preserve peace.

Security has been stepped up on the North Ossetian-Ingush border.

The State Duma expressed condolences to the families of those killed and injured in Beslan. “The State Duma expresses its grief and sympathy to the relatives of those killed, to the people of North Ossetia and to all Russian people. The Beslan tragedy is a national tragedy,” said Boris Gryzlov, Chairman of the State Duma. He stressed that the State Duma would make everything possible to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Ambassador-at-Large Anatoly Safonov as special representative of the Russian President for international cooperation in fighting terrorism and organized crime. This is a new government post.