Medieval ruler Tsar Samuel’s remains return home to Bulgaria after 60 years

Loading the video No Comment Video. Medieval ruler Tsar Samuel’s remains return home to Bulgaria after 60 years Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 05/10/2026 - 11:37 GMT+2 Czar Samuel’s bones are flown back to Sofia after 60 years in Greece, as both countries seal a deal to exchange historic religious relics. The remains of Czar Samuel, a medieval Bulgarian ruler, were flown to Sofia on Saturday under a military flypast. Honour guards then carried the coffin in a state procession to the Church of St Sophia, where crowds queued to pay their respects. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Samuel spent his reign fighting the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom, and he died in 1014. His bones were found in a Greek border area 60 years ago, and Bulgaria has negotiated with Athens for decades to bring them home. Saturday's handover follows an agreement this week between the Bulgarian and Greek culture ministers. Under it, Bulgaria will give back religious relics taken from Greek monasteries during the First World War. History Bulgaria Tribute Sofia Top stories Now playing Next Medieval ruler Tsar Samuel’s remains return home to Bulgaria after 60 years Now playing Next Belgian city’s historic canals turn green after record-hot summer Now playing Next Dogs, turtle and snail receive blessings in churches Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 5th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next Floods leave streets and roads submerged across Catalonia Now playing Next Spanish police remove over 3,000 migrants from Ceuta beach camp Now playing Next US pulls all B-1 bombers from UK airbase at centre of terror probe Now playing Next Greece will not 'borrow' its own treasures, Mitsotakis says Now playing Next Showers and storms across Spain this weekend, floods kill 102-year-old woman Now playing Next FlyDubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe in 'terrorist' act Now playing Next Bosnia awaits for final general election results Now playing Next Merz makes surprise Kyiv visit as Germany pledges more aid to Ukraine Now playing Next 'Bolsonaro win could put EU-Brazil ties at risk,' says former MEP Albuquerque Now playing Next Iran war: 'Europe not being at the table is a failure', Charles Michel says Now playing Next Europe Today: Russia hits Kyiv as Merz visits; Bolsonaro wins Brazil's first round election Now playing Next Intelligence Everywhere: Inside Europe’s Next Technology Era ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Tens of thousands take to Madrid streets demanding housing action No Comment French students clash with police as school protests spread nationwide No Comment 5,000 drones turn China’s night sky into a giant light show No Comment Mobile ebola laboratory cuts diagnosis times for patients in Congo Brazil Brazil heads to a runoff presidential vote after Bolsonaro and Lula fail to acquire outright majority needed Sport Judo 2026 World Championships: Koga and Yusifov Strike Gold on Opening Day in Baku World News “We don't feel a sense of worry” in Europe, says the head of the Muslim World League Europe News Student protests in France: 400–500 schools fully or partially closed Monday Europe News Merz makes surprise visit to Kyiv: Germany pledges further aid to Ukraine Latvia Latvia's pro-European ruling party wins election as populists gain ground Design 'I want to spark new ideas': Architect Ma Yansong on designing the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia awaits for final general election results as preliminary count remains unclear ADVERTISEMENT Culture Series Shooting and scoring: Photographer Alex Pantling on capturing the world’s greatest footballers Europe News Tens of thousands of people take to streets of Paris to march for Pride Europe News Showers and storms across Spain this weekend, floods kill 102-year-old woman Culture news Greece will not 'borrow' its own treasures, Mitsotakis says of Parthenon Marbles Focus Azerbaijan International Investment Forum: Where capital meets opportunity Israel UAE says FlyDubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe in 'terrorist' act Latvia Latvia: Exit polls show ruling party leading as populist party gains momentum Europe News Second Kyiv bridge hit in two days as Russia targets Dnipro crossings ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT