Theophanes was part of the artistically prolific Strelitzas-Bathas family, whose members have left over one hundred extant works distributed throughout Greece.

Sometime before 1527 his wife died young and the family moved to Mount Athos, where Theophanes and his sons became monks and worked as painters.

[4] Theophanes's work was sufficiently esteemed that he received a commission in the Great Lavra, the largest monastery at Mount Athos.

He painted frescos in the main building of the complex, a Byzantine church dating back to 1004.

Three years later Theophanes settled in Karyes, the administrative and commercial center of Mount Athos.