Memorial Cemetery "City of Angels"

Beslan is a suburb of Vladikavkaz, located on the banks of the Terek River, 8 km from the border with Ingushetia. It gained tragic worldwide notoriety after the horrific terrorist attack at School No. 1 in September 2004. The word "Beslan" now signifies not only a small town in North Ossetia near Vladikavkaz but has also become a symbol of one of the most monstrous terrorist acts in history. On September 1, during the ceremonial assembly, children, their parents, and school staff were taken hostage—a total of 1,128 people—who were held in the school building for three days. In total, including special forces and rescuers, 334 people died, of whom 186 were children; more than 800 were injured, and 72 children were left disabled. Since 2004, the first day of school has been a day of remembrance for the tragedy when human taboos were broken. The school celebration on September 1 is now forever linked to the memory of the victims of the terrorist attack. This happened against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Chechnya (2004 marked the fifth year of the Second Chechen War) and became a kind of peak of its brutality.

The victims of the terrorist attack were buried in a memorial cemetery that appeared in Beslan after the tragedy. Previously, the cemetery in Beslan was called the "Children's," "School Lane," and in 2008 it was officially named the "City of Angels." Here lie the children, their parents, and teachers who died in the terrorist attack at School No. 1, a total of 266 people. Of the 266 graves, 186 are children's graves.

Felix Totiev, who lost 6 grandchildren during the terrorist attack (died in 2019).

There is also another— a mass grave where fragments of bodies that could not be identified are buried. The date of death for all is the same—September 3, 2004. The cemetery has no gates. On the entrance arch is inscribed: "City of Angels." The name "City of Angels" is hardly accidental. Children are angelic souls, and snow-white figurines of little angels in flowing garments are everywhere here: displayed along the low fence, sitting on pedestals between the graves.

On September 3, 2005, at the "City of Angels" memorial cemetery, the "Tree of Sorrow" monument was unveiled. This bronze composition was created by sculptors Alan Kornaev and Zaurbek Dzanagov. The monument is about 9 meters tall. It represents a tree trunk made up of four female figures, whose outstretched arms form the crown holding angels, symbolizing the children who died.

Source:

https://winter-borealis.livejournal.com/157625.html