The Orthodox Church honours St Pimen of Zograf today, Tuesday 3 November. The newly built St Pimen of Zograf church in the Kraimorie district of Burgas is marking its feast day.

Bulgarian painters, icon painters and restorers regard him as their patron, so Bulgarian Artists' Day is also marked on 3 November.

Pavel, later known as Pimen of Zograf, was born around 1540. His parents sent him to learn writing, icon painting, church singing and the Scriptures. His teacher was the Zograf hieromonk Toma, who served in the old town church of St George the Great Martyr.

After his parents died, his teacher died too. Pavel gave away his property and set out for the Bulgarian monastery on Mount Athos. There he took the name Pimen and learned his craft. The Orthodox Church later counted Pimen the Painter among its saints.

His name survives in a founders' inscription at the Suhodol (Suvodol) Monastery in the western Balkan Mountains, near Zaječar and Knjaževac. The monastery was then in the Vidin diocese. Today it is in Serbia.

The inscription says the church of the Nativity of the Mother of God was painted by the will of the Father, with the help of the Son and the fulfilment of the Holy Spirit. The painting began in July and ended in August of the year 7113 (1606), when hieromonk Pimen was guardian. The church's founders were Vukomir and Pavel.

Pimen of Zograf died in 1620 in the Cherepish Monastery. The monastery later burned down and was abandoned. Monks from the Suhodol Monastery then found his grave and moved his relics to their own monastery.