Greece has agreed to hand over the remains of Tsar Samuel, the medieval Bulgarian ruler, to Bulgaria, Reuters reported on September 29.

The handover, described by Bulgarian officials as a long-sought act of restitution, is expected to be marked by a ceremony in Sofia on October 3.

Tsar Samuel ruled the First Bulgarian Empire around the turn of the 11th century and remains a towering figure in Bulgarian national history, commemorated in monuments, museums and textbooks.

His remains were discovered decades ago and had been held in Greece, where the question of their return had lingered as a sensitive bilateral issue.

The agreement removes one of the lingering irritants between the two neighbours and gives Bulgaria a symbolic moment of national pride, with state honours expected at the Sofia ceremony. Historians note that Samuel’s empire once stretched across much of the Balkans, and his legacy is claimed in the national narratives of several countries. The handover is expected to draw dignitaries from both nations and extensive media coverage in Sofia.