From the Greek island of St Achilleios to Bulgaria: the Journey of Tsar Samuil’s remains

The remains of Tsar Samuil will be returned to Bulgaria following decades of efforts. They are being kept at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki, and the handover to the Bulgarian side is due to take place in the presence of the prime ministers of Bulgaria and Greece.

• Historic Return: Tsar Samuil’s Remains Will Be Returned to Bulgaria after More than 1,000 Years

Archaeological excavations at the Basilica of St Achilleios began in 1965, and four years later Greek archaeologist Prof Nikolaos Moutsopoulos discovered a sarcophagus containing a human skeleton. It was later established that these were the remains of Tsar Samuil.

The location of the discovery is particularly significant. The basilica was a major royal church, while medieval accounts associate the site specifically with Tsar Samuil’s burial.

Examination of the remains also revealed severe trauma to the spine. The discovery, together with other findings from the research, is among the evidence on which the remains were identified as belonging to the Bulgarian ruler.

According to the Byzantine chronicler John Skylitzes, after seeing his blinded soldiers following the Battle of Kleidion in 1014, the ruler suffered a severe shock and died soon afterwards.

Following their discovery, the remains underwent anthropological examination and were subsequently kept in Thessaloniki.

Their return to Bulgaria comes after decades of efforts and negotiations between Sofia and Athens. Thus, more than half a century after their discovery on the island of St Achilleios, the remains of Tsar Samuil will be handed over to Bulgaria.