[1][3] After the death of Theophilos in January of 842, the empire was inherited by the infant Michael III and managed by his mother Theodora until 856.

[7][8] After he was elevated (probably a week later on March 11), he immediately disposed of and replaced a great number of iconoclast bishops in the empire.

[7] Notable attendees of the council were Patriarch Methodios, Theodora, Theoktistos, Sergios Niketiates, and several iconoclast clergymen.

[11] As a condition for signing the resolution of the 843 council, Theodora required that the anathema that the Church had placed on her late husband be lifted.

David, Symeon and George recounts, "At dawn, he took that great phalanx of people and they raised on high with their hands the all-holy icon of our Lord and of the Mother of God who bore Him [Christ] and openly carried it through the street in public procession.

[7] In the Church of Hagia Sophia, the people recited the Synodikon of Orthodoxy, a short profession of the validity of icon veneration which was authored by Patriarch Methodios.