The Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate for Interaction with the Armed Forces said the reliquary with a fragment of the right hand of Prince Dmitry Donskoy is 'on its way to the line of combat contact.' The relics will be taken to Russian military units in Donbas, with the stated aim of 'spiritual strengthening of warriors.'
'The holy commander is going to where the fate of the Fatherland is being decided today, to invisibly stand in one battle formation with our defenders,' the church said in a statement.
The Moscow Patriarchate quoted Patriarch Kirill, who recalled the Battle of Kulikovo of 1380 and claimed that it was in his right hand that Dmitry Donskoy 'held the sword on the Kulikovo field.'
Russia's Defense Ministry reported that the reliquary was delivered to a church at the Saur-Mogila memorial complex in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, where a prayer service was held. The service was conducted by Metropolitan Vladimir of Donetsk and Mariupol and Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk, who heads the Synodal Department for interaction with the Armed Forces. Vladimir said the bringing of the relics would 'serve to strengthen the spirit' and help participants in the war 'achieve victory over the adversary.'
The Russian Orthodox Church announced the second discovery of the prince's relics on August 18. The church said the remains were 'found' during restoration work in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Dmitry Donskoy was canonized in 1988 for his victory at the Battle of Kulikovo and his 'great services to the Church and the people of God.'