Greece and Bulgaria exchange historical relics and remains of Tsar Samuel
The exchange concludes nearly 50 years of negotiations, returning 48 Greek relics and the remains of Tsar Samuel to their respective countries.
Quick Look
- Greece and Bulgaria completed a historic exchange of cultural artifacts and human remains in Thessaloniki.
- Greece returned the remains of Bulgarian Tsar Samuel, while Bulgaria returned 48 Greek religious relics taken during World War I.
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Why It Matters
The relics were removed from Greek monasteries during World War I in 1917. Tsar Samuel's remains were discovered in 1964 in the Basilica of St. Achillios.
ATHENS, October 3. /TASS/. Greece handed Bulgaria the remains of Bulgarian Tsar Samuel (997-1014) in exchange for the return of 48 Greek historical relics taken from Greek monasteries to Sofia during World War I; ERT News aired the exchange ceremony, held at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Bulgarian Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev signed the relic exchange protocol in the presence of the two countries’ prime ministers, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Rumen Radev. Mitsotakis said the exchange resulted from almost half a century of negotiations between the two countries.
"The return to Greece and Bulgaria of relics that are important to society transforms difficult moments of the past into ‘bridges’ to a shared future. At the same time, it underscores the strength that two neighboring peoples gain when they courageously choose the path of mutual respect and trust," the prime minister said.
According to Mitsotakis, "48 objects of invaluable cultural, spiritual and emotional significance are returning home." "These are holy icons and crosses, vestments and reliquaries, and even an episcopal throne," he said.
"These relics were removed in 1917, at the height of World War I, from the Holy Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita, as well as from the Timios Prodromos Monastery and the Panagia Eikosifoinissa Monastery. They will initially be housed here, in this magnificent Byzantine Museum, and will then return to where they belong - their historic homes," Mitsotakis emphasized.
He noted that "at the same time, Athens is fulfilling its own duty by handing over to Sofia the remains of Tsar Samuel and other remains from the four sarcophagi discovered in 1964 by Professor Moutsopoulos in the Basilica of St. Achillios."
The Basilica of St. Achillios is an important Byzantine monument on the island of Agios Achillios in Lake Prespa.
The Bulgarian prime minister, in turn, thanked Greece for returning Tsar Samuel’s remains.
Greece and Bulgaria previously agreed to continue negotiations on identifying other historical objects of mutual interest and including them in a subsequent agreement between the two countries. The relics received from Bulgaria will remain on display at the Museum of Byzantine Culture until November 5, 2026.
They will then be transferred, depending on their provenance, to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Eikosifoinissa, the Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos and the Holy Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita.
Open Questions
- What other historical objects are currently under negotiation?
