Patriarchal address in connection with the second discovery of the honorable relics of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoytranslated

All-honorable fathers! Dear brothers and sisters! By the sheer grace of God, our Church and Fatherland are celebrating this year the second discovery of the honorable relics of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy, which were discovered during restoration work in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin - the tomb of the Moscow Grand Dukes and Tsars. The rediscovery of the relics of saints has happened more than once in Russian history. This was the case, in particular, with the relics of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, St. Seraphim of Sarov and other saints. However, the discovery of the honorable remains of the blessed Prince Dmitry after centuries of wars and revolutions is for all of us a special sign of God’s Providence - an encouraging sign of spiritual support and consolation. We know that despite difficult historical circumstances, even in the era of atheism, the name of Dmitry Donskoy was carefully preserved in people's memory.

His contribution to the creation of Russian statehood was so significant and undeniable that already during the Great Patriotic War, veneration of his military works was restored. The church then collected funds for the Dmitry Donskoy tank column, which was transferred to the front in 1944. It was bright...