Greece and Bulgaria have signed a cultural agreement providing for the return to Greece of 48 historic artefacts taken to Sofia in 1917 during World War One, while Greece will hand over to Bulgaria the remains of Tsar Samuel.
The agreement, signed by the two countries’ culture ministers Lina Mendoni and Evtim Miloshev, follows years of negotiations and provides for the reciprocal transfer of objects of historical significance.
The 48 artefacts come from three religious institutions in northern Greece and have been held or displayed at Bulgaria’s National Museum of History since they were taken to Sofia in 1917.
In return, Greece will hand over remains discovered in 1965 at the Basilica of St Achillios and identified as those of Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria, who ruled from 997 to 1014. Other anthropological material found in four sarcophagi at the site will also be transferred.
The artefacts will be displayed at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki until Nov. 5, before being returned to the religious institutions from which they originated.
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