The Kremlin Tries A New Weapon For Its War: The Relics Of A 14th-Century Saint
The church says the relic will strengthen soldiers’ morale as it displays the fragment along the 1,000-kilometer front line.
- The Russian Orthodox Church dispatched a fragment of 14th-century Prince Dmitry Donskoy's right hand to frontline troops in occupied Ukraine on Tuesday to boost military morale during the ongoing war.
- Workers uncovered Donskoy's remains during restoration work at the Kremlin's Cathedral of the Archangel this summer; the 14th-century warrior prince is revered for defeating the Mongol Golden Horde in 1380.
- Referring to the prince as "the holy commander," the church claims the relic will stand "shoulder to shoulder" with soldiers, continuing Russia's historical pattern of deploying religious artifacts to influence battlefield outcomes.
- On Tuesday, Kremlin official Sergei Kiriyenko joined senior clergy at the Saur-Mogila war memorial in occupied Donetsk Oblast for a prayer service, where military commanders kissed the relic and made the sign of the cross.
- This patriotic display arrives ahead of parliamentary elections later this month, though critics question the church's decision to breach religious protocol and align with Kremlin war goals.
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After more than four years of war in Ukraine, and with the elections to renew the Duma (in addition to regional administrations) scheduled from 18 to 20 September, the Russian Orthodox Church that has always supported Vladimir Putin and his choice to start the invasion in February 2022, does not want to leave anything uninvited for [...] The article Ukraine, Moscow sends the relics of the Holy Commander of Donskoy in the Donbass.
The Kremlin sends to the front “the hand with which he wielded his sword” the great prince of Moscow to legitimize himself as a God-chosen regime
Russia sends recently discovered bones of medieval warrior prince to Ukraine front to boost morale
Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy died in 1389 and is revered by Russian nationalists for defeating the Mongol Golden Horde at the 1380 Battle of Kulikovo. His remains were uncovered in August.
The Kremlin Tries A New Weapon For Its War: The Relics Of A 14th-Century Saint
With the blessing of the Russian Orthodox Church, officials unearthed the remains of a warrior prince whose 14th-century battlefield victory is a seminal moment in Russian history. Fragments are now being sent to the front lines in Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
Moscow has sent the relics of the holy Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy to the front in Ukraine. The discovery of the relic was announced less than a month ago, and Russian President Vladimir Putin called it “miraculous.” According to the Russian Orthodox Church, the presence of the “holy commander” on the front is now supposed to help “spiritually strengthen the soldiers.” This is not the only pre-modern measure being discussed in the Russian army.
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