The leadership and residents of South Ossetia gathered in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Tskhinval to pray for the fallen defenders of the Fatherland, civilians who gave their lives for the well-being and independence of the Republic, for its further development, Father Jacob told the “Res” news agency before the memorial service.
“In those tragic days, fourteen years ago, we were praying in the temple. And since then, we have developed a tradition that on these mourning days in August we held requiem services for the perished. We always remember in our prayers the Ossetian children who defended the independence of our Motherland, the Russian soldiers who stood next to us in our struggle. We thank the Lord that he saved the people of South Ossetia, saved our long-suffering country from the enemy,” Father Jacob said.
President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev took part in the memorial service in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The requiem was served by the Dean of the Churches of the Alan Diocese, Father Jacob.
Priests, parishioners, Orthodox Christians of the Republic, representatives of the legislative and executive branches of power were praying for the souls of the innocent victims of the Georgian neo-fascists.
Father Jacob addressed the parishioners, noting that it was necessary to pray every day for their relatives, for the people of Ossetia, to remember those defenders of the Fatherland, regardless of nationality, who gave their lives for the well-being of today's generation.
“We are simply obliged to pray for the souls of the perished, so that they look at us from heaven with gratitude in order to alleviate their suffering. They must know that the sacrificed lives are not in vain. We remember everyone and will pray for their souls,” he said.
As noted by the head of state Alan Gagloev in a commentary to journalists, it is the sacred duty of every citizen of South Ossetia to preserve and pass on from generation to generation the historical truth about the war of 08.08.08.
“These days, the Republic is remembering the victims of the August 2008 war. Today we are mourning and paying tribute to the memory and immense respect for all those who were killed for the freedom and independence of our Republic. I am sure that today every citizen of South Ossetia will recall them, light candles and pray. I think it is a sacred duty of all of us to remember the innocent victims and pray for their souls," Alan Gagloev has emphasized.
The President has expressed confidence that there is no future without history. He has added that this is why every person should know the tragic pages of modern history, remember the names of the heroes who, at the cost of their own lives, achieved the independence of the country.
“The sacred duty of each of us is to preserve and pass on from generation to generation the historical truth about the terrible war of 08.08.08, the innocently killed and fallen heroes. Future generations should know at what cost the victory was won. Today, all people come to the temple to light candles for those killed in August 2008. Sorrow does not leave the faces of our citizens, and this is understandable. These days, despite the fact that a lot of time has passed, the footage of that terrible war comes to life. Although, I think it is impossible to forget those fateful days of 08.08.08. The names of the heroes will forever remain in our hearts,” the head of state believes.
Commemorative events dedicated to the 14th anniversary of the beginning of the August war are taking place in South Ossetia these days.
