Monk Theophanes of Constantinople (Istanbul) (AD 758-817)

Theophanes was born into a prominent Constantinople family in 758. He became a leading monk and participated in the Ecumenical Church Council in Nicea in 787 that restored the use of Christian icons in churches and monasteries. When emperor Leo V initiated another anti-icon persecution in 813, he ordered Theophanes to appear before him. Leo V attempted to force Theophanes to condemn Christian icons, but he refused. As a result, Theophanes was imprisoned and tortured. In 817, he was exiled to the island of Samothrace, where he died from his wounds.