Theodorus (Greek: Θεοδώρος; ca. 775–ca. 842) and Theophanes (Greek: Θεοφάνης; ca. 778–845), called the Grapti (from Greek: γραπτοί, "written upon"), are remembered as proponents of the veneration of icons during the second Iconoclastic controversy. They were brothers and natives of Jerusalem.
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A canon (Greek: κανών, romanized: kanōn) is a structured hymn used in a number of Eastern Orthodox services. It consists of nine odes, based on the Biblical canticles. Most of these are found in the Old Testament, but the final ode is taken from the Magnificat and Song of Zechariah from the New Testament.
The roots of this type of hymn go as far back as the 5th century, reaching maturity in the Greek language through the work of St. Andrew of Crete, whose penitential Great Canon is still used on certain occasions during Great Lent. It was further developed in the 8th century by Sts. John of Damascus and Cosmas of Jerusalem, and in the 9th century by Sts. Joseph the Hymnographer and Theophanes the Branded.
Theophanes the Confessor (Greek: Θεοφάνης Ὁμολογητής) or Theophanes of the Great Field (Greek: Θεοφάνης τοῦ Μεγάλου Ἄγρου; c. 759 – 817 or 818) was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy who became a monk and chronicler. He served in the court of Emperor Leo IV the Khazar before taking up the religious life. Theophanes attended the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 and resisted the iconoclasm of Leo V the Armenian, for which he was imprisoned. He died shortly after his release.
Theophanes the Confessor, venerated on 12 March in both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, should not be confused with Theophanes of Nicaea, whose feast is commemorated on 11 October.