Relics of Dmitry Donskoy found in Kremlin during Cathedral restoration

Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin. Photo: TASS

The relics of Holy Right-Believing Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy have been discovered during restoration work at the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, reports TASS.

During the dismantling of floor slabs, the brick tomb structures of the crypt near the southern wall of the cathedral were taken apart, revealing three intact white-stone sarcophagi — those of Dmitry Donskoy, Grand Prince Ivan Ivanovich the Fair (Ivan Krasny), and Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Zhilka of Uglich. As it turned out, during works in the 1860s the sarcophagi of Dmitry Donskoy and Ivan the Fair had been raised to floor level, and engineers had to place Donskoy's sarcophagus beneath that of Ivan the Fair in order to make room for utility lines.

Upon inspection, specialists discovered that the lid of Dmitry Donskoy's sarcophagus had two transverse cracks, due to which the middle section could have collapsed inward and damaged the relics. The museum's custodians received the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to carry out emergency restoration work. Following the examination, the relics were found to be fully intact, with the exception of the left calcaneal bone, showing no signs of post-mortem damage and in good condition.

Dmitry Donskoy was born in 1350, led the Moscow Principality at the age of nine, and is venerated as an outstanding defender of Orthodoxy. His official canonization took place at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988, and his feast day is celebrated on June 1.

As the UOJ reported, the relics of St. Olympiada of Fârcașa were uncovered in Romania.

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