After hearing the two options Staurakios was considering, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Nikephoros I, aligned himself with Stephanos, Theoktistos, and Michael.
Setelah mendengar dua opsi Stavrakos sedang mempertimbangkan, Patriark Ekumenis Konstantinopel, Nikephoros I, menyejajarkan dirinya dengan Stephanos, Theoktistos, dan Mikhael.