Bessarion 1 was a Stoudite monk, he was the addressee of three letters from Theodoros 15 (Theodore the Stoudite) in 816: Theod. Stud., Ep. 125 (early summer 816), Ep. 235 (M/L 816), Ep. 252 (818) (all addressed Βησσαρίωνι τέκνῳ). He is also mentioned in four further letters of Theodoros 15, written in late 816 or early 817: Theod. Stud., Ep. 186, 190, 195, 199.

Bessarion 1 was a native of Crete and apparently of good family (εὐκλέησας καὶ τὸ γένος καὶ τὴν πατρίδα σου): Theod. Stud., Ep. 235. In 816 he was imprisoned for his support for the veneration of icons and received a letter of encouragement from Theodoros 15: Theod. Stud., Ep. 128. Bessarion 1 wrote to Theodoros 15 from prison, and Theodoros 15 replied expressing pleasure at his steadfastness: Theod. Stud., Ep. 235. He was one of the group of monks associated with Thaddaios 1 and like him and the others (Theodoros 15 mentions Thaddaios 1, Dorotheos 9 and Iakobos 14) he suffered imprisonment and beatings during the persecution under Leo V (Leo 15): Theod. Stud., Ep. 186, 190, 195, 199. In 818 Theodoros 15 sent him another letter of encouragement and describes him as a witness to the truth and as a confessor; he had endured imprisonment and beatings for the faith; he is addressed as ἱερέ μου παῖ: Theod. Stud., Ep. 252. He is addressed as τέκνον μου ἠγαπημένον or similar: Theod. Stud., Ep. 128, 235, 252. He is one of the disciples of Theodoros 15 who remained steadfast in spite of sufferings during the persecution under Leo V (Leo 15): Vita B Theod. Stud., 301C, Vita C Theod. Stud., 291, Vita A Theod. Stud., 205C.

(Publishable link for this person: )