Bishop Tarasius of Constantinople (Istanbul) (AD 730-806)

Tarasius was born to a prominent judge in Constantinople in 739. He became a senator and imperial
secretary to emperor Constantine VI and his mother Irene. Tarasius resigned his high-profile governmental position and entered a monastery.

In December 784, Irene selected him to become Constantinople’s bishop because he supported the use of Christian icons. Tarasius presided over Nicea’s Ecumenical Church Council in September 787, which authorized Christian icons. He died in February 806.