This person formed the companions of his captivity into a church, and they remained true to their faith, and labored earnestly for its spread.

Having made proselytes among the Bulgarians, the bishop and many of the captives suffered martyrdom.

Somewhat later, a captive monk, named Constantine Cypharas, endeavored to carry forward the work thus commenced; but the Greek empress, Theodora, for some special reasons, was led to redeem this monk, and procure his return to his native country.

At this juncture, a sister of the Bulgarian king Bogoris was residing at Constantinople, whither she had been conveyed as a captive in early youth, and where she had been educated as a Christian, and the effort to secure the return of the monk resulted in her being sent back to her friends.

She now labored to gain over the king, her brother, to the Christian faith.