Anonymi 8 were two brothers, with the same father and mother, described as physically handsome and also handsome of soul, who were of high rank (δύο τινὰς ὁμοπατρίους καὶ ὁμομητρίους ἀδελφοὺς ἐν ἀξίᾳ προὔχοντας, ὡραίους τε τῷ εἴδει καὶ τῇ ψυχῇ); they were sent by the emperor Constantine V (Konstantinos 7) to Stephen the Younger (Stephanos 2), then in prison, to persuade him to condemn icons and to beat him until he was near death if he refused; Anonymi 8 delivered the message, but kissed Stephanos 2 s feet and received his blessing and then returned to tell the emperor (Konstantinos 7) that they had carried out his commands; later the emperor Konstantinos 7 had them put to death (οὕσπερ ἐσχάτως ζήλῳ φθονήσας πεφόνευκεν): Vita Steph. Iun. 167. 9-13 (1172D-1173B). See J. Pargoire, ROC 8 (1903), 440ff. According to Pargoire, they were perhaps identical with the brothers Konstantinos 6 and Strategios 1.

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