Czar Samuel's Remains Finally Repatriated to Bulgaria After Centuries

WHO:

ABC News - Czar Samuel, a medieval ruler of Bulgaria, is considered a symbol of Bulgaria’s national identity.

ABC News - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev attended the ceremony for the remains' handover.

ABC News - Several prominent Greek academics and religious leaders criticized the arrangement regarding the remains.

WHAT:

ABC News - The remains of Czar Samuel will arrive in Bulgaria after decades of negotiations with Greece.

ABC News - The remains were discovered in a Greek border area 60 years ago.

ABC News - The remains will be flown to Sofia, Bulgaria, aboard a military aircraft and received with full state honors, including a fighter jet escort and a 21-gun salute.

ABC News - A public procession to the Church of St. Sophia will allow the public to pay respects.

WHERE:

ABC News - The remains were kept at Thessaloniki’s Museum of Byzantine Civilization in Greece.

ABC News - The remains will be received in Sofia, Bulgaria.

WHEN:

ABC News - The handover of the remains is scheduled for Saturday.

WHY:

ABC News - The handover follows an agreement between the culture ministers of Bulgaria and Greece, under which Bulgaria will return religious relics taken from Greek monasteries during World War I.

ABC News - Rumen Radev stated that Czar Samuel, who historically divided the nations, now unites them and strengthens their strategic cooperation.

HOW:

ABC News - The remains will be transported via military aircraft and received with a ceremonial escort and honors.

(UPDATED October 4, 2026 02:04 UTC)

The remains of Czar Samuel, a significant figure in Bulgaria's national identity, will be flown to Sofia after decades of negotiations with Greece, with the handover scheduled for Saturday. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev will attend the ceremony, which will include a public procession to the Church of St. Sophia, allowing citizens to pay their respects. This event follows an agreement between the culture ministers of both countries, highlighting a commitment to strengthen cooperation, as Radev noted that Czar Samuel, who once divided the nations, now serves to unite them.