As Russian military forces dig in for another winter along the front lines in eastern Ukraine, troops are receiving fragments of medieval relics intended to provide spiritual mobilization and divine sanction for the ongoing war. A piece of the remains of Dmitry Donskoy, a prince celebrated in Russia for his victory at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, was dispatched to the front lines in early September. The relic is currently touring military bases in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.
The military department of the Moscow Patriarchate, the clerical leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church, stated that the medieval commander would stand invisibly shoulder-to-shoulder with modern soldiers. According to church officials, the relic—a fragment of the prince’s right hand—is the exact hand he used to wield his sword at Kulikovo. The deployment of sacred artifacts into active combat zones reflects an increasingly close alliance between the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church as the conflict grinds through a bloody war of attrition.
“The church has practically merged with the state to the point of being indistinguishable,” said Sergei Chapnin, a religious scholar and director of communications at Fordham University’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center, who previously worked in the publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate. Chapnin noted that the combination of sacred items and material military deployment functions as an effective propaganda tool, framing the government’s territorial claims through a historical lens.
History and Symbolism of Medieval Relics in Modern Warfare
The remains of Dmitry Donskoy carry a specific contemporary message for the Russian public, according to geopolitical and religious scholars. Because Donskoy is traditionally viewed as a defender of the fatherland rather than an aggressor, his invocation aligns with official government narratives that portray Russia as defending its own territory. Chapnin described the practice as a mobilizing myth designed to connect different historical eras and influence mass consciousness through the presentation of relics as protective artifacts.
Metropolitan Vladimir, the Russian-installed Orthodox leader in Donetsk and Mariupol, asserted that the presence of the relic would help soldiers and civilians mobilize their physical and spiritual strength to triumph over opposing forces. Donskoy is not the first historical figure invoked during the 2022 invasion. Earlier in the year, relics of Prince Alexander Nevsky—another medieval ruler recognized as a symbol of Russian military glory—were also transported to frontline troops.
The timing of the deployment of Donskoy’s remains coincided with restoration work at the Kremlin’s Archangel Cathedral in August, which occurred shortly after unverified reports that the Nevsky relics had gone missing. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the recovery of the remains an absolutely unique and marvelous discovery, while Patriarch Kirill, the pro-Kremlin leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, described the unearthing as a special sign of God’s providence.
Criticism and Frontline Perspectives
The use of medieval remains for contemporary military objectives has drawn sharp criticism from exiled clergy and historians. The Rev. Alexander Zanemonets, an Orthodox priest and historian born in Moscow who left Russia permanently following the invasion, stated that the discovery has no connection to authentic Christian practice. Zanemonets described the strategy as the exploitation of religion for patriotic purposes through a cynical calculation by state-aligned church leadership.
Despite such criticisms, many soldiers stationed on the front lines report turning to faith amid high casualty rates and harsh conditions. A former Russian serviceman who previously fought in Ukraine told reporters that makeshift churches have been established from available materials, with troops praying before missions and clergy regularly visiting military units and hospitals. A serving soldier in the Zaporizhzhia region similarly described interactions with priests and holy objects as a source of serious moral support.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was Dmitry Donskoy? Dmitry Donskoy was a medieval prince of Moscow celebrated in Russian history for leading forces to victory against the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.
- Why are church relics being sent to Ukraine? The military department of the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian state leadership are using historical religious symbols to boost troop morale, frame the conflict as a defense of the fatherland, and encourage spiritual mobilization.
- Are other historical figures used in this manner? Yes. Earlier in the year, relics belonging to medieval prince Alexander Nevsky were also taken to visit military units on the front lines.
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