Portal:Byzantine Empire/Selected biography/7

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Theoktistos Vriennion (Greek: Θεόκτιστος), (d. November 20, 855), was a Logothetes, a powerful Byzantine official, responsible for the diplomatic relations of the Empire and a promoter of major educational programs within the Empire. He had proved time and again to be a very competent and very faithful servant to the Empire. He served Michael II, Theophilos' father, and Theophilus, who had appointed him to the regency council for his son Michael III and Empress Theodora. After the death of Theophilus (820-842), a regency was set up consisting of Theoktistos, Empress Theodora, and the Empress' brothers, Bardas and Petronas.

Theoktistos Vriennion also was the uncle of Cyril and Methodius. In 843 he invited Cyril and Methodius in Constantinople to help with their studies and arrange the placement of Methodius as a commander of a Slavic administrative region.