Remains of Bulgaria’s Czar Samuel return ‘home’ after 1,000 years | History News
Czar Samuel’s Remains Returned to Bulgaria Amid Tensions with Greece
Published on October 3, 2026
The remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel were repatriated to Bulgaria over a millennium after his death, stirring national pride and regional tensions. Czar Samuel, who challenged the Byzantine Empire in a bid to expand his kingdom before his defeat and subsequent death in 1014, is regarded as a symbol of Bulgarian national identity. The remains were discovered in a border area of Greece in the 1960s.
On Saturday, a military aircraft, escorted by fighter jets, transported the coffin containing Samuel’s remains from Greece to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. Thousands gathered in a public square to welcome the czar, marking the culmination of years of discussions between Bulgaria and Greece that led to this week’s agreement.
In attendance were various Bulgarian political leaders who paid tribute to the ruler during a ceremony featuring the national anthem and a 21-gun salute. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev emphasized the importance of unity in European history and called for peace, referencing the long-standing rivalry between Greece and Bulgaria.
“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 stated. He expressed hope that Europe would focus on healing rather than revisiting historical conflicts.
As aircraft roared overhead, attendees expressed their emotions. “I am here to welcome Czar Samuel back to Bulgaria, where he belongs,” said Martin Nestorov, a 42-year-old software engineer. Tsanka Zlatkova, a 65-year-old retired art historian, added, “A Bulgarian is returning to his homeland.”
Following the ceremony, a procession made its way to the Church of Saint Sofia, a sixth-century basilica where officials say Samuel was baptized.
The repatriation of Samuel’s remains is part of a wider agreement between Greek and Bulgarian cultural ministers. In exchange, Greece is set to receive 48 artifacts that Bulgarian troops took from Greek churches and monasteries during World War I.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis remarked that the handover may support Greece’s ongoing efforts to have the Parthenon Marbles returned from the British Museum, highlighting a growing global focus on protecting cultural heritage. “Historical heirlooms cannot be treated as the spoils of war,” he asserted.
Czar Samuel remains a figure of contention; North Macedonia also claims him as part of its national identity, with a prominent statue located in its capital, Skopje. In 2022, a bilateral commission suggested that Samuel be recognized as the leader of what many historians identify as the Bulgarian Empire, which was centered in present-day North Macedonia.
