Remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel will arrive in Bulgaria after decades of talks with Greece

The remains of the medieval Bulgarian ruler Czar Samuel are set to journey to Bulgaria on Saturday, following years of discussions with neighboring Greece. This significant event comes after the two nations' culture ministers agreed to an arrangement earlier in the week, which involved Bulgaria returning religious relics taken from Greek monasteries during World War I.

Czar Samuel, a revered warrior king, fought against the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom, but met his demise shortly after the battle in 1014. He is a celebrated figure in Bulgaria's national identity. The remains, which were found in a Greek border area six decades ago, will be transported to Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, by a military aircraft.

The aircraft will be escorted by fighter jets, and a 21-gun salute will be conducted. The remains will also be brought to the Church of St. Sophia, where the public can pay their respects.

The event marks a symbolic reunion of the two nations, as the handover comes after the previous agreement. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev expressed his hope that this gesture would strengthen the strategic cooperation between the two countries and reinforce the historical relations between their states and people. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also welcomed the ceremony, hoping that it would bolster Greece's international campaign to return the Parthenon Marbles, a collection of ancient marble sculptures housed in the British Museum.