The remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel are set to arrive in Bulgaria today, 3 October 2026, following decades of negotiations with Greece. The remains, discovered in a Greek border area 60 years ago, will be flown to Sofia aboard a military aircraft and received with full state honours, including a fighter jet escort and a 21-gun salute.
The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stated his hope that the handover would support Athens' campaign to persuade Britain to return the Parthenon Marbles. He commented that the global community is re-evaluating its stance on protecting cultural heritage, with this initiative resting on the principle that historical heirlooms should not be treated as spoils of war.
The handover follows an agreement made earlier this week between the culture ministers of both countries. Under this agreement, Bulgaria will return religious relics that were taken from Greek monasteries during the First World War. Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev, speaking at a ceremony in Thessaloniki, said that while Czar Samuel may have divided them in the past, he now unites them, strengthening strategic cooperation.