The Orthodox Church honours St Nestor of Thessalonica today, 27 October. According to his life story, the young Christian beat the gladiator Lee in the arena. The church also marks the day of St Dimitry of Basarbovo, a saint from the Ruse area.

In the church calendar, Nestor comes right after his teacher. Yesterday was St Demetrius' Day, and today is the turn of his pupil. Before the fight, the young man visited his teacher, St Demetrius of Thessalonica, in prison and received his blessing. Only then did he step into the arena against Lee, the emperor's favourite, who had killed Christians. Nestor beat him, but the victory cost him his life.

The emperor ordered Nestor put to death with a sword. These events date from the early 4th century.

The saint from Basarbovo

Dimitry of Basarbovo lived much later, in the 17th century. He was born in the village of Basarbovo, and little is known about his life. The rock monastery that bears his name stands near the village, in the Rusenski Lom valley, about 10 km from Ruse. The monastery of St Dimitry of Basarbovo holds its feast day today. Its church keeps an icon with a particle of the saint's relics, a gift from Romanian Patriarch Teoctist.

The guardian of Bucharest

The relics themselves reached Bucharest during the Russo-Turkish war of 1768–1774. There, the saint from the village near Ruse is the city's protector. For that reason, he is honoured today in both Bulgaria and Romania.

About 13 centuries separate the two saints of the day: the young martyr of the 4th century and the monk from Basarbovo.

Bobov Dol celebrates

Bobov Dol marks its Town Day on 27 October. It was declared a town by a State Council decree on 27 October 1967, so it turns 59 this year. The programme includes a ceremonial session of the municipal council and a blessing of water in front of the town hall.

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

27 October is also World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. UNESCO proclaimed it in 2005. The date marks the anniversary of the organisation's 1980 recommendation on protecting moving images.

Name day for people called Nestor

After yesterday's name day for people called Dimitar, today is the turn of those called Nestor. The name is in the calendar because of the pupil of St Demetrius, the martyr of Thessalonica. Happy name day to everyone named Nestor!