The Russian Orthodox Church has dispatched a reliquary containing a fragment of the right hand of Dmitry Donskoy, a medieval prince from the 14th century, to Russian forces engaged in the conflict in Ukraine. Church officials stated that the relic would provide spiritual reinforcement to soldiers and assist in achieving military objectives.
The reliquary was initially brought to the Savur-Mohyla war memorial in Russia-occupied Donetsk, where senior Orthodox clergy conducted a prayer service with representatives of the Russian military. The Metropolitan Vladimir of Donetsk and Mariupol, an Orthodox leader appointed by Russian authorities, indicated that the relic’s presence would help soldiers and civilians strengthen their resolve and secure victory. The relic is being transported along the frontline to various military positions.
Donskoy’s remains were formally uncovered during restoration work at the Cathedral of the Archangel within the Kremlin compound earlier this year. The prince had been canonized in 1988, though church authorities had not previously attempted to exhume his remains despite knowing his burial location for centuries. Putin attended the ceremony marking the discovery of the relics.
Some observers have questioned whether the church’s decision to open the centuries-old tomb aligns with traditional religious protocols. Alexander Zanemonets, an Orthodox priest and historian, suggested the timing of the exhumation appeared connected to wartime considerations and the church’s efforts to demonstrate support for military operations. He noted that the characterization of Donskoy as a homeland defender aligns with official Russian framing of the conflict.
This action follows an earlier decision to send relics of Alexander Nevsky, another medieval prince revered in the Orthodox tradition, to the front. The church hierarchy has become extensively involved in supporting the military effort since the full-scale conflict began, including deploying priests to military units and instructing churches across Russia to offer prayers for military success.
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