Russian Orthodox Church says it found the relics of Dmitry Donskoy, the medieval prince who led the Rus to defeat the Mongol Golden Horde at Kulikovo in 1380

Source: TASS

Restoration workers at the Kremlin’s Archangel Cathedral have discovered the relics of Prince Dmitry Donskoy, the Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing a source in the Russian Orthodox Church.

The work began because the floor slabs were sinking and threatening to destroy the tombstones, the source said:

“The brick tomb covers of the crypt along the cathedral’s southern wall were dismantled, revealing three solid white-stone sarcophagi containing the remains of Holy Right-Believing Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy, Grand Prince Ivan Ivanovich the Fair, and Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Zhilka of Uglich.”

The examination found Donskoy’s remains complete except for the left heel bone. “The bones show no signs of postmortem damage and are well preserved,” the source said.

Fragments of the relics will be distributed to various Russian Orthodox churches, the source said.

The church canonized Dmitry Donskoy in 1988, the 1,000th anniversary of the Christianization of Rus. The decision cited his “great service to the Church and the people of God,” particularly his victory at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

Dmitry Donskoy died in 1389 and, according to the chronicles, was buried in the Archangel Cathedral. Until now, his burial site had never been opened, and the authenticity of his remains had never been confirmed.

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Russian Orthodox Church says it found the relics of Dmitry Donskoy, the medieval prince who led the Rus to defeat the Mongol Golden Horde at Kulikovo in 1380

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Russian Orthodox Church says it found the relics of Dmitry Donskoy, the medieval prince who led the Rus to defeat the Mongol Golden Horde at Kulikovo in 1380

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