Bulgarians mark day of Saint Haralampi, beekeepers' patron saint Bulgarians mark the day of Saint Haralampi, the patron saint of beekeepers. Believers in the Church of the Blessed Virgin in the southwestern town of Blagoevgrad brings jars of honey, place them on a cross-shaped platform, light candles on top of them and wait for the priests to bless the honey before taking the jars back home to use as medicine, with the hope that the saint will bring them health and a sweet life. IMAGES of the ceremony AND SOUNDBITES of priest and believers