Patriarchate holds services for Beslan siege victims

The service, conducted by Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos and Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos, was attended by Russian Ambassador to Turkey Petr Stegniy, Russian Consul General to Istanbul Sergey Vehickin, Greek Consul General Alexis Alexandris and Russian citizens living in Turkey. Church bells tolled during the service.

Patriarch Bartholomeos later spoke to the press and said they described the school siege as murder. Expressing hope for a world without terrorist acts, Bartholomeos said: "Whatever their nationality, all people and all nations should live in peace and respect. We will always pray and work for this."

Stating that they would sponsor a conference among various religions in December, Bartholomeos said their goal was to improve respect among religions and cultures and to make peace permanent.

Russian Ambassador Stegniy said the service showed that all the world and all religions were ready to fight terror.

Nearly 1,000 people were taken hostage by terrorists in the Sept. 1 school siege, which ended with an operation launched by Russian special forces. A total of 336 people, most of whom were children, died and hundreds were wounded.