Greece and Bulgaria have signed a memorandum providing for the reciprocal transfer and safekeeping of historic and religious relics, with Sofia set to return 48 artifacts taken from Greek religious institutions during World War I, while Greece will transfer to Bulgaria remains identified as those of Bulgarian Tsar Samuel.

The 48 relics being returned to Greece originate from the Monastery of Panagia Eikosifoinissa, the Monastery of St. John the Baptist near Serres, and the Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita. According to Greece’s Ministry of Culture, the items were taken to Sofia in 1917 and were subsequently stored or displayed at Bulgaria’s National Historical Museum.

In return, Greece will hand over remains discovered by archaeologist Nikolaos Moutsopoulos in 1965 during excavations at the Basilica of St. Achilleios on an island in Lake Prespa. Greek authorities say the remains were identified as belonging to Tsar Samuel, who ruled Bulgaria from 997 to 1014.

Additional anthropological material from four sarcophagi discovered at the basilica will also be transferred. The remains are currently held at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki.

The two countries plan to sign the protocols formally transferring the relics on October 3 at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki, in the presence of the prime ministers of Greece and Bulgaria.

The Greek relics are scheduled to be displayed temporarily until November 5 before being returned to the monasteries and metropolitan see from which they originated.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece welcomed the agreement, describing it as the result of years of negotiations. Church leaders expressed hope that the arrangement would pave the way for the further return of religious artifacts removed from Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The agreement, however, does not resolve all outstanding issues. Greek media have reported that negotiations over the relics have continued for years and that the memorandum covers only some of the objects Athens has sought to recover. The document explicitly provides for further discussions concerning other historical artifacts.

In Bulgaria, the forthcoming return of Samuel’s remains has been described by the country’s Ministry of Culture as a historic event. The ministry said the transfer ceremony is scheduled for October 3, after which the remains are expected to be taken to Sofia.