The friends and family of three children found dead in their home gathered to remember them at their funeral.
Eight-year-old twins Austin and Luke Riggi and their five-year-old sister Cecilia were discovered in an Edinburgh townhouse on August 4 following reports of an explosion.
Their mother, Theresa Riggi, 46, who is being treated in hospital after apparently falling from a second-floor balcony, has been charged with their murder.
Prayers were said for the children at St Mary's Cathedral in Aberdeen, where they lived until shortly before their deaths.
The family asked mourners to make donations to the Reverend Gordon Trust Orphan Fund, instead of flowers. The service was led by Bishop Peter Moran.
Relatives addressed mourners during the 90-minute service, which was being followed by a private memorial at the city's crematorium.
In a statement, Peter Moran, Bishop of Aberdeen, said: "Everybody is very shocked and distressed by the deaths of these three children, and I'm particularly distressed because they worshipped here. In fact the twins made their first Communion here just in the spring of this year.
"I'm pleased that they have their extended family with them. These are people of great faith. So the church is a family too and they have turned to the church for comfort.
"We have tried to give that privately of course but also in the course of the Funeral Mass that has just taken place.
"The Funeral Mass is much more than a memorial, looking back. Because we believe in resurrection and life after death, we also look forward. We comfort each other with the words of scripture as Christians have done for hundreds of years.
"And when we think of the children themselves we trust in God, we ask Him to take them into His care and take them home. And all the more so because they are so young and innocent.
"And then of course, a quiet word. A quiet prayer for the mother of the children because God is the only one who knows and can see into her troubled heart."
Bells tolled steadily shortly before 11am as mourners began to arrive at the city centre cathedral.
The children's father, Pasquale Riggi, wearing dark glasses, was among the last to enter for the Roman Catholic Mass.
During the service, Bishop Moran said: "The unthinkable has happened, and the unbearable has to be borne.
"We are here, family, friends, work colleagues, clergy, because we don't want Pasquale, his parents and his parents-in-law to carry that burden alone, to suffer alone in their terrible loss."
Three tributes were given, including one from Mr Riggi's sister, Lillian Mancinelli, and her husband, Joe.
Family's comfort
Bishop Moran's homily described the comfort that has been given to the grief-stricken family.
Candles were lit for the children and bread, wine and water was brought forward.
The homily added: "As individuals and as a community, all of us are here today to comfort Pasquale and those close to him as best we can and to honour the memory of three lovely children, and many of us are here to do so by renewing and proclaiming our faith in a life to come.
"Amid their own deep sorrow, the family themselves have courageously set the tone of today's service - with light, flowers and songs - a tone of hope and love."
With the bells tolling again, the bishop and clergy left the building carrying a crucifix. The three wooden coffins were taken from the church, each carried by two people, to three waiting hearses.
Flowers were taken and laid on the coffins, which also bore the names of the children.
The cortege then passed slowly along the cobbled street towards the crematorium for a private service. About 200 people flanked the route from the cathedral to the cars as Mr Riggi left.
IN DETAIL
- VIDEO: Riggi father seeks comfort from 'fond memories' of children
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Father 'paralysed with grief' after death of children
