The Russian Orthodox Church has delivered a relic believed to be part of the right hand of Dmitry Donskoy, a 14th-century prince famed for defeating the Mongol Golden Horde, to Russian troops fighting in eastern Ukraine. The church stated the relic was sent to “spiritually strengthen” soldiers and aid their efforts to secure victory.
The reliquary containing the relic was first brought to the Saur-Mogila war memorial in the Donetsk region, which is controlled by Russian forces. Orthodox clergy, along with representatives of the Russian military, conducted a prayer service there. Metropolitan Vladimir of Donetsk and Mariupol said the relic’s presence would help both soldiers and civilians “mobilize their strength” against what they described as the enemy.
Religious Support for Russian Military Efforts
This delivery demonstrates the Russian Orthodox Church’s deep involvement in supporting the Kremlin’s military campaign in Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the church hierarchy has aligned closely with the war effort—priests have been dispatched to military units and occupied areas, and churches have been encouraged to pray for victory.
Patriarch Kirill, the church leader, has framed the conflict in religious terms, portraying it as a defense of the homeland. Earlier in 2023, relics of another medieval military hero, Alexander Nevsky, were also sent to the front lines.
Uncovering and Using the Relics
The relics of Dmitry Donskoy were uncovered last month during restoration work in the Cathedral of the Archangel at the Kremlin, where many Russian princes and tsars are buried. Russian authorities hold Dmitry Donskoy in high regard for his historic military victory in 1380.
Vladimir Putin attended the ceremony marking the unearthing of the relic. However, some critics have questioned the church’s decision to open the prince’s tomb decades after his canonization in 1988, suggesting this move was motivated by wartime patriotism rather than religious tradition.
Symbolic Role in Justifying the Conflict
Orthodox priest and historian Alexander Zanemonets commented that the church’s recent actions reflect efforts to show greater support for Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. He noted that portraying Donskoy as a defender of the homeland aligns with the Kremlin’s narrative that Russia is engaged in self-defense rather than an act of aggression.
