Russian Orthodox Church Sends Medieval Prince's Bone Relic to Ukraine Front

The Russian Orthodox Church has dispatched a fragment of the remains of medieval Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy to the front line in Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions Russia claims to have annexed in 2022, saying the relic would help strengthen soldiers' morale.

A discovery at the Kremlin

Donskoy's sarcophagus was uncovered this summer during restoration work at Moscow's Cathedral of the Archangel inside the Kremlin. The prince, who died in 1389, is revered by Russian nationalists for his victory over the Mongol Golden Horde at the 1380 Battle of Kulikovo. In August, President Vladimir Putin personally inspected the remains, which experts said were well preserved, calling the find an absolutely unique and marvellous discovery that reinforced the foundations of Russian history.

Hand fragment sent to troops

The Moscow Patriarchate said the fragment sent to the front came specifically from Donskoy's right hand — the same hand with which he wielded his sword at the Battle of Kulikovo. Referring to him as "the holy commander," the church said the relic would invisibly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Russian troops. Kept in a small ornate casket under toughened glass, it will reportedly be shown to combat units along the front line.

Long-standing symbolism

Donskoy's name was previously given to a Soviet tank column funded by the church during World War II, and he was declared a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988. The church has consistently backed both Putin and Russia's military campaign in Ukraine throughout the war.