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Orthodox church sends medieval prince’s remains to Russian troops in Ukraine
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- The Russian Orthodox Church has sent a fragment of the right hand of Dmitry Donskoy, a 14th-century warrior prince, to troops fighting in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine to "spiritually strengthen" soldiers and aid victory.
- The relic was taken to the Savur-Mohyla war memorial in Donetsk, where senior clergy and Russian military representatives held a prayer service, with church leaders saying it would help mobilize strength for victory.
- This act reflects the church’s deep involvement in supporting the Kremlin’s war effort, with Patriarch Kirill framing the conflict in religious terms and priests actively participating in military units and occupied areas.
- Donskoy’s relics were only recently uncovered during restoration work in the Kremlin, a move criticized by some as breaking religious protocol and seen by analysts as motivated by wartime patriotism.
- The use of medieval military saints like Donskoy and Alexander Nevsky aligns with Kremlin narratives portraying Russia as defending its homeland rather than engaging in aggression against Ukraine.
