His murals survive in 15 monasteries. He is St Pimen of Zograf, whom the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours on Tuesday, 3 November. His feast day is also Bulgarian Artists' Day.

The saint was born around 1540 in Sredets, now Sofia, and was named Pavel at his baptism. He later went to Mount Athos and became a monk at the Zograf Monastery, where he took the name Pimen.

That is where his two nicknames come from. "Of Zograf" is for the monastery where he took his vows, and "of Sofia" is for the city where he was born.

With brush and trowel

Pimen was an icon painter and a church builder. He painted icons and built churches, and he restored any abandoned church he found.

Late in life he settled in the Cherepish Monastery. He died there on 3 November 1620, aged about 80, and the church honours him on the day he died. His grave was found later, and monks from the Sukhodol Monastery moved his relics to their own monastery.

A day for artists

In 1993, St Pimen of Zograf was named patron of Bulgarian artists. Since then his feast day has also been Bulgarian Artists' Day, and this year it is marked for the 34th time. Icon painters and restorers celebrate it too, BTA and BNR report.

On the same date the church also honours the holy martyrs Acepsimas, Joseph and Aithalas. Acepsimas was a bishop in the Persian city of Naason, Joseph was a priest, and Aithalas was a deacon. All three suffered for their faith in the 4th century, when the Persian king Shapur II persecuted Christians.

The Executive Agency "General Labour Inspectorate" also celebrates on Tuesday. It has marked the day since 1998. The date comes from 3 November 1907, when Bulgaria set up its labour inspectorate, BTA reports. This year the inspectorate turns 119.

Pimen and Acepsimas celebrate their name days today. Both names are rare, but every studio and icon-painting workshop has a reason to gather, because the day is also a holiday for artists.

Happy name day to Pimen and Acepsimas, and happy holiday to Bulgarian artists!