Elias 4 was bishop of Crete; in 787 he attended the Second Council of Nikaia (the Seventh Ecumenical Council) and was probably present at all eight sessions, from 24 September to 23 November: Mansi XII 994-XIII 486. In the lists of those present at the first and seventh sessions he is styled Ἠλία ἐπισκόπου Κρήτης (τῆς Κρητῶν νήσου: XIII 365): Mansi XII 994, XIII 365. Elsewhere he is styled Ἠλίας ὁ θεοφιλέστατος ἐπίσκοπος Κρήτης, or similar: Mansi XII 1090, XII 1150, XIII 136, XIII 381. At the second session he spoke in support of the traditional veneration of icons as described in statements from pope Hadrian I (Hadrianos 1) and condemned iconoclasts: Mansi XII 1090. At the third session he accepted as orthodox the statement of the faith contained in the letter from the eastern patriarchs: Mansi XII 1150. At the fourth session he subscribed the statements read out from the Fathers in support of icon veneration: Mansi XIII 136. At the seventh session he subscribed the statement of the faith adopted by the Council: Mansi XIII 381.

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