After six decades of negotiations, the remains of medieval Bulgarian ruler Tsar Samuel have officially returned to Bulgaria from Greece. The handover ceremony took place today, Saturday, October 3, 2026, with the remains being flown to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital.
The remains, discovered 60 years ago in a Greek border region, were given full state honors, including a fighter jet escort and a 21-gun salute. They will be processed to the Church of St Sophia for public viewing.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reportedly hopes this move will encourage Britain to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. He stated that cultural heritage should not be treated as spoils of war, a sentiment echoed by his Bulgarian counterpart, Rumen Radev. Radev mentioned that while Tsar Samuel historically divided the two nations, his return now unites them and strengthens bilateral ties.
This cultural exchange follows an agreement where Bulgaria will return World War I-era religious relics to Greek monasteries. Tsar Samuel, a warrior king who fought the Byzantine empire, is a key figure in Bulgarian national identity.
