The remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel were returned to Bulgaria on Saturday in a ceremony marking the end of decades of negotiations with Greece. Samuel, known as Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who expanded his kingdom through conflict with the Byzantine Empire but was ultimately defeated, dying shortly after the Battle of Kleidion in 1014. He is widely regarded as a symbol of Bulgarian national identity.

The remains, discovered about 60 years ago near the border area in Greece, were transported by military aircraft to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. The flight was escorted by Bulgarian air force fighter jets as it crossed into Bulgarian airspace. Upon arrival, the coffin containing the remains was carried to a central square in Sofia, where thousands gathered to witness the event. Politicians from across Bulgaria’s political spectrum attended, paying tribute with the national anthem and a 21-gun salute.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of a shared European cultural heritage and the need to avoid reopening historical divisions. “Today we Europeans are learning to read history with a desire to belong not only to our homeland, but also to the culture that unites us across the entire European continent,” Radev said. He further stressed that Europe should prioritize peace and not revive old rivalries, referencing the long-standing history of tension between Bulgaria and Greece.

A ceremonial procession accompanied the remains to the Church of Saint Sophia in Sofia, a sixth-century basilica significant to Bulgarian history and where Samuel is believed to have been baptized. Patriarch Daniil, head of Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church, offered prayers at the white marble sarcophagus, stating that "more than a millennium after his life and historic feat, Czar Samuel returns to his people to remain forever in Bulgaria."

The return of Samuel’s remains followed an agreement signed last week between the culture ministers of Bulgaria and Greece, which also outlined Bulgaria’s commitment to return religious relics taken from Greek monasteries during World War I. Despite the agreement, some prominent Greek scholars and religious figures criticized the arrangement as insufficient from Bulgaria’s side.

Earlier on Saturday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Radev and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis participated in a ceremony at Thessaloniki’s Museum of Byzantine Civilization, where the remains had been stored before the transfer. Radev remarked that the artifacts belong to both peoples and reflect their shared history, expressing hope that Samuel’s legacy would now serve as a unifying symbol. “If in the past Czar Samuel divided us, I can say that today he unites us,” Radev said, highlighting an enhancement in strategic cooperation between the two nations.

Mitsotakis linked the event to Greece’s broader efforts to reclaim cultural heritage, particularly referencing the ongoing international campaign to repatriate the Parthenon marbles from the British Museum. He remarked on a growing global shift toward reassessing how cultural artifacts are preserved and returned, emphasizing that such monuments should not be treated as spoils of war or consequences of historical circumstances.

Saturday’s handover marks a significant moment in Bulgarian-Greek relations, with hopes that it will strengthen ties and foster mutual respect over shared historical legacies.