I understand the incredible situation in which our President found himself, who was already spat on and pecked after the situation in Moscow, at Dubrovka, was resolved by force and with victims. Therefore, in the event of a second crisis, there was a greater risk that the Russian authorities could follow the lead of the bandits and capitulate. Which, in fact, is what Aushev promised the terrorists during negotiations with them. I am convinced that this would be the worst of all outcomes, with the subsequent collapse of the country and even greater casualties. Because those who declared war on us are predators. When you make concessions to them, they, feeling weak, increase their pressure. It is possible to demand concessions from those who yield indefinitely.

So the mysterious explosions that set Sasha free at the same time saved us from capitulation. For me, this is also God's Providence.

However, I speak a language that is too old. To understand who came to Beslan, it is enough to recall one word that has recently entered our language. These are orcs. It is impossible to negotiate with the orcs.

- The calculation of those who sent this beast to Ossetia was clear: to sow ethnic and interreligious hatred, to blow up the North Caucasus. Do you think their goal has been achieved?

-You never can tell. On the one hand, Ossetians are not today's Russians. These are Caucasians. Children were killed in front of their fathers. After that, convincing Ossetian men not to take up arms and not to take revenge on the bandits and their relatives according to the laws of the Caucasian blood feud is, of course, a super task. On the other hand, they are Christians. What will prevail?

And in addition to this, there is a certain complexity of local church life. In the North Caucasus there is now a wonderful bishop – Theophanes. He is a man who has the richest experience in our Church of work and life in Muslim countries. Before heading the Stavropol diocese, he was for several decades the representative of the Patriarch of Moscow to the Orthodox Patriarchs in the Middle East and Africa. But still, he has been in the Caucasus for only a year. He inherited a huge, complex, multi-structured diocese. And I don't even know if Vladyka Feofan had been to Beslan before these events. How trusting is his relationship with the local flock? Will the Ossetians listen to the voice of the Russian bishop, whom they may not yet have time to know and love? Vladyka Feofan's epistle to the Ossetian flock regarding the events in Beslan begins as follows: "My dear, beloved Ossetian flock." The fact that he treats the Ossetian Christians with love is beyond doubt for me, but is there reciprocal love? Has it formed? Is there a readiness to listen to the voice of the Russian archpastor in these conditions? I hope that in three days of grief there appeared something that could not grow even in a year. Vladyka Theophan was in Beslan in those days. I saw photos where he gives his car to transport an injured boy...

In general, in Ossetia, his Christian word is now on the scales against anger and some local traditions[27].

- Кому нужно сделать главный оргвывод из произошедших событий?

- Конечно же, самой Москве. Необходимо менять сознание и властей, и прессы и общества. Капитулянтская политика и жизнь по принципу – «лишь бы не было войны» - в нынешних условиях ведет в тупик. Надо осознать, что сегодня Россия просто возвращается в нормальное русло своей истории. Война для нее была печальной обыденностью. За нашу тысячелетнюю историю в среднем интервал между войнами был не более трех-четырех лет. Это означает, что каждый мужчина хотя бы потенциально должен ощущать себя воином, а каждая мать должна понимать, что когда она растит сыновей, то делает это не для того, чтобы они всегда оставались рядом с ней. Без такого осознания и воспитания мы очень скоро станем рабами.

- Каких конкретных шагов от власти сейчас ждут священнослужители, православная общественность?

- Попробуйте посмотреть на наше телевидение глазами мусульман: проповедь язычества (бесконечные гороскопы, целители, маги), показ разврата, бездумный культ богатства и развлечений. Верующий мусульманин на федеральных телеканалах не находит того, что дорого его сердцу. А, значит, он будет всеми силами ограждать своих детей от того, что льется с наших телеэкранов. И источник такого телевещания – Останкино и Москва будут в его сознании врагом.