Historic Return of Tsar Samuil’s Remains to Bulgaria

The skeletal remains attributed to the medieval ruler Tsar Samuil were uncovered in 1969 by Greek archaeologist Nikolaos Moutsopoulos in the Basilica of St. Achilleios near the Small Prespa Lake. Samuil, who died on October 6, 1014 in Prespa, defended Bulgarian territories against the Byzantine Empire for more than four decades. The question of returning his remains surfaced repeatedly in bilateral talks, most recently in 2022 during negotiations between then-Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Deputy Prime Minister Assen Vassilev, and Greek officials on energy and infrastructure projects. Greek media report that the Greek Orthodox Church must also approve the transfer.

Greece to return Tsar Samuil’s remains to Bulgaria Tsar Samuil's Remains Leave Thessaloniki for Bulgaria Oct 3 Tsar Samuil's remains are coming back to Bulgaria, says Asen Vasilev Greece hands over the remains of Tsar Samuil and Tsar Gavril Radomir to Bulgaria

Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that the handover will occur on Saturday, October 3, with the ceremony in Thessaloniki’s Museum of Byzantine Culture. He said the remains will be flown to Sofia aboard a military “Spartan” aircraft and placed in a special sarcophagus at St. Sofia Church, where the future tsar attended services as a child. Radev invited citizens to gather at 12:30 p.m. in Battenberg Square, Prince Alexander I of Battenberg Square, for a procession to the church. He also noted that Bulgaria will receive the remains of Tsar Gavril Radomir and other royal family members discovered in the same church.

Greece hands over the remains of Tsar Samuil and Tsar Gavril Radomir to Bulgaria Tsar Samuil's Remains Leave Thessaloniki for Bulgaria Oct 3 Greece to return Tsar Samuil’s remains to Bulgaria Tsar Samuil's remains are coming back to Bulgaria, says Asen Vasilev

• “We have reached a historic agreement on the return of the remains of Tsar Samuil” — Prime Minister Rumen Radev

Greece to return Tsar Samuil’s remains to Bulgaria

• “On Saturday, October 3, at 12:30 p.m., I invite all Bulgarians to Battenberg Square, in front of the Royal Palace in Sofia, to welcome the remains together and pay tribute to the great Bulgarian ruler” — Rumen Radev, prime minister

Greece to return Tsar Samuil’s remains to Bulgaria

• “After that, we will accompany him in a procession to St. Sofia Church for his final journey” — Rumen Radev, prime minister

Greece hands over the remains of Tsar Samuil and Tsar Gavril Radomir to Bulgaria

• “Then, together in the procession, we will accompany him to Saint Sophia for his last journey,” — Rumen Radev, prime minister

Tsar Samuil's Remains Leave Thessaloniki for Bulgaria Oct 3

The scheduled ceremony on October 3 will be organized jointly by the Greek and Bulgarian governments. Following the public reception in Sofia, a procession will lead the sarcophagus to St. Sofia Church for the “final journey” of the medieval ruler.

Greece hands over the remains of Tsar Samuil and Tsar Gavril Radomir to Bulgaria