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

The remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel will arrive in Bulgaria after decades of negotiations with GreeceTHESSALONIKI, Greece -- The remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel will arrive in Bulgaria on Saturday, after decades of negotiations with neighboring Greece.Samuel was a warrior ruler who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom, but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014. He is considered a symbol of Bulgaria’s national identity.The remains – discovered in a Greek border area 60 years ago – are to be flown to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, aboard a military aircraft to be received with full state honors, including a fighter jet escort, a 21-gun salute and a procession to the Church of St. Sophia, where the public will be able to pay respects.Saturday’s handover follows an agreement earlier this week between the two countries’ culture ministers, under which Bulgaria will return religious relics taken from Greek monasteries during World War I.Several prominent Greek academics and religious leaders have criticized the arrangement as inadequate on the Bulgarian side. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev at...