The remains of Bulgaria’s medieval ruler, Czar Samuel, have returned to the country more than 1,000 years after his death, following a long-running agreement between Bulgaria and Greece.
Samuel, who died in 1014 after years of fighting the Byzantine Empire, is regarded as an important symbol of Bulgarian national identity. His remains were reportedly discovered in a Greek border area during the 1960s.
The coffin containing the remains was flown to Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, on Saturday aboard a military aircraft escorted by fighter jets.
Thousands of people gathered in a public square to honour the former ruler, while Bulgarian officials across the political spectrum attended a ceremony featuring the national anthem and a 21-gun salute.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the return should serve as an opportunity for Europeans to acknowledge their shared history and promote peace rather than reopen historical disputes.
The remains were later taken in a procession to the Church of Saint Sofia, a sixth-century basilica where church officials say Samuel was baptised.
Agreement Between Bulgaria and Greece
The return of Samuel’s remains is part of a broader cultural agreement between Greece and Bulgaria. Under the arrangement, Greece is expected to receive 48 historical objects that Bulgarian troops took from Greek churches and monasteries during World War I.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the agreement could strengthen international efforts to return cultural heritage to its countries of origin.
Samuel’s historical legacy remains contested in the region. North Macedonia also claims a connection to the medieval ruler, with a large statue of him located in the capital, Skopje.
A bilateral commission in 2022 recommended describing Samuel as the ruler of a state that most contemporary historians identify as the Bulgarian Empire, whose territory included areas of present-day North Macedonia.
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