In late Byzantine monumental painting, works are rarely signed by the artists and even when they are, it is very scarce for us to have more than one signed work by the same painter. Exceptions to this 'rule' are two masters, Michael Αstrapas and Eutychios (Αstrapades), who left their signatures in five different churches. Αll of these churches are located in the historical region of Macedonia, which is today divided between the states of Greece, Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria. The Αstrapades painted their signatures or mοnograms and even other undecipherable letters not in apparent places, but almost hidden among the garments of some saints, the weaponas and the armory of holy warriors and upon some ceramic vessels that are decorating some scenes of the iconographical program.
