Source: no traces of mortal wounds were found on the relics of Dmitry Donskoy

There are no signs of injuries incompatible with life on the relics of Dmitry Donskoy, but there are signs of significant physical exertion, a source in the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) told RIA Novosti.

The day before, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' led a prayer service at the relics of the holy prince discovered during restoration work in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Particles of the prince’s relics will be transferred for veneration by believers to churches of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the transfer of a particle to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, a RIA Novosti source said earlier.

“No traces of wounds incompatible with life were found. There are traces of heavy physical exertion on the muscles of the chest and arms. The initial stages of arthrosis in the knee joint, also associated with heavy physical activity, were also noted,” the agency’s interlocutor said.

At the same time, a visual examination of the remains in the sarcophagus of Dmitry Donskoy, he said, allowed experts to judge the age at the time of death - from 35 to 45 years. At the time of his death, Dmitry Donskoy was 38 or 39 years old.

“All this is consistent with written sources and historical evidence about the life and death of the Holy Blessed Prince Dmitry,” concluded the RIA Novosti source.

In July, during restoration work with the burials of the Grand Dukes, restorers discovered three sarcophagi in the Archangel Cathedral, among which was the sarcophagus of Dmitry Donskoy. Archaeological and anthropological studies have confirmed that the remains in it belong specifically to the holy noble Grand Duke. Restoration work was carried out with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.