Relics of Dmitry Donskoy Discovered in the Kremlin During Cathedral Restoration

Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin. Photo: TASS

The relics of the holy right-believing Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy have been discovered during restoration work at the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. This was reported by 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 Red, and the Uglich Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Zhilka. As it turned out, during works in the 1860s the sarcophagi of Dmitry Donskoy and Ivan the Red had been raised to floor level, and engineers had previously been forced to place Donskoy's sarcophagus beneath that of Ivan the Red 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 remains. The museum's custodians received the blessing of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill to carry out emergency restoration work. Following the examination, the remains 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 Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, the relics of the Venerable Olympiada of Fârcașa were discovered in Romania.

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