"""

Remains flown to Sofia by military aircraft

The remains of Tsar Samuel were brought to Bulgaria more than 1,000 years after his death. The medieval ruler, who fought the Byzantine Empire and is regarded as one of the symbols of Bulgarian national identity, was transported to Sofia by military aircraft on Saturday.

The remains believed to belong to Samuel were discovered in the 1960s in an area near the Greek border. Fighter jets from the air force escorted the military plane carrying the coffin as it arrived in Bulgaria’s capital.

Thousands attended the ceremony held after agreement was reached this week following years of difficult negotiations. Bulgarian politicians from across the political spectrum were also present, the national anthem was played and 21 gun salutes were fired.

After the official ceremony, he was taken to St. Sophia Church

Following the reception, a procession carried the remains to St. Sophia Church, which gave the capital its name. Church officials say Samuel was baptized in the sixth-century basilica.

Bulgaria framed the ceremony with a European message

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev said in his speech at the ceremony that Europe should read history on the basis of peace without reopening old wounds. The remark was seen as a reference to the centuries-old rivalry between neighboring Bulgaria and Greece.

Warplanes also flew low over the ceremony. The crowd gathered in the square greeted Samuel’s return with cheers.

The handover is part of a broader cultural agreement

The transfer of the remains was included in a wider understanding reached between the Greek and Bulgarian culture ministers. Under the deal, Greece will hand over Samuel’s remains, while Bulgaria will return 48 artifacts taken from churches and monasteries in Greece by Bulgarian soldiers during World War I.

  • Samuel’s remains were handed over to Bulgaria.
  • 48 objects taken to Greece during the war will be returned.

Before the ceremony, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he hoped the move would give momentum to Athens’ campaign to recover the Parthenon Sculptures displayed at the British Museum. Mitsotakis said historical heritage cannot be treated like war booty.

Samuel’s legacy remains a regional dispute

Bulgaria is not the only country to claim Samuel. Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, also has a large statue of the ruler, and Macedonians regard Samuel as one of their own historical leaders.

A 2022 joint commission suggested presenting Samuel as the head of a state that most modern historiography considers the Bulgarian Empire. The center of that state was in an area now within North Macedonia’s borders.

"""