On October 18, artists celebrate their professional holiday, BNR reported.
It is celebrated on the day of Saint Luke the Apostle, who is considered the first Christian icon painter. The Holy Tradition says that he painted two icons - of the Holy Virgin Mary with the Divine Child in her arms and of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. In this way, he started church icon painting.
Saint Luke was born into a pagan family in Antioch and was a physician by profession. He joined the Christian community in the city and became a faithful companion of Saint Paul in his missionary journeys, as well as during his imprisonment in Rome. He is the author of one of the four Gospels, as well as the book Acts of the Apostles, included in the New Testament. His relics rest in the Basilica of “Santa Giustina” in Padua, Italy.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church glorifies the holy apostle and evangelist Luke on October 31, and the Day of the Bulgarian Artist is on November 3 - the day of St. Pimen Zografski.