Dmitry Donskoy's remains recovered in Moscow Kremlin

The remains of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, a central figure in Russian history and a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church, have been recovered at the Archangel Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.

The discovery occurred during archaeological and restoration work intended to address sinking floor slabs within the cathedral. Workers uncovered three white-stone sarcophagi, one of which contained the remains of the prince. The exact location of Donskoy’s burial had been uncertain since 1864, when restoration efforts led to the accidental displacement of grave markers and the burial of his sarcophagus beneath that of his father, Ivan II.

Following authentication by archaeologists and anthropologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences, fragments of the relics were made available for veneration. On Tuesday, Patriarch Kirill led a service at the cathedral to mark the occasion, presenting parts of the remains to the faithful.