SOFIA: More than 1,000 years after his death, the remains of what may be Tsar Samuel, one of the last major rulers of the First Bulgarian Empire, returned “home” on Saturday.

Greece and Bulgaria reached an agreement on their return this week, with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev hailing the accord as “historic”. After a handover ceremony in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, the remains arrived in Sofia and were carried in a flag-draped coffin through the Bulgarian capital by a guard of honour.

Crowds of onlookers cheered and fighter jets performed a flypast as the remains were taken to be laid in state in the Church of Saint Sofia, a 6th-century basilica that gave its name to the city.

In a speech to the crowds, Radev expressed his “deepest gratitude to (Greek PM) Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the wisdom and courage that led to this historic agreement” to return the remains. The deal “further strengthens the strategic partnership, friendship and trust between our two countries”, he added.

A 21-gun salute rang out across the square where the ceremony took place as he finished speaking. In exchange for the remains, Greece is to receive 48 objects pillaged by Bulgarian troops from churches and monasteries in northern Greece during World War I.

Samuel, who reigned from 997 to 1014, led several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire with his brothers, one of whom he later executed.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2026