Orestes 2 and Aphrates 1 are mentioned together by Theodore the Stoudite (Theodoros 15) in five letters, all written in early summer 816 to Stoudite monks, as having deserted the iconophile cause and joined the iconoclasts (ἐξέπεσεν ἀφ' ὑμῶν ὁ ἐλεεινὸς Ὀρέστης καὶ Ἀφράτης, or similar: Ep. 122, p. 241, line 13; 124, p. 242, line 9); they are alluded to as "sons of darkness" (υἱοὶ σκότους, or similar: Ep. 125, p. 243, line 14; 126, p. 244, line 8) and Theodoros 15 hints that they had previously shown signs of unreliability (ὧν ὁ πρότερος βίος ἄπιστος εἰς ὑποταγήν: Ep. 122, p. 241, line 15; cf. 124, p. 242, line 10, which reads: ἀρχαῖοι ἄπιστοι ἀμφότεροι); Theodoros 15 describes them as deniers of Christ (ἔξαρνοι Χριστοῦ, or similar: Ep. 124, p. 242 ; 126, p. 244, line 7; 128, p. 246, line 11): Theod. Stud., Ep. 122, p. 240-241; 124, p. 242; 125, p. 243; 126, p. 244; 128, pp. 245-246. Orestes 2 and Aphrates 1 were both Stoudite monks who defected to the iconoclasts in 816. Cf. Fatouros, pp. 238*-241*. His defection is lamented in other letters written by Theodoros 15 in 816: Theod. Stud., Epp. 81, pp. 201-202, line 20; 131, p. 248, line 9; 145, pp. 260-261, line 7. Later that year he repented and went to visit Theodoros 15 at Boneta; Theodoros 15 declined to see him but imposed on him a suitable penance: Theod. Stud., Ep. 225, pp. 355-359, l57 (before September 816).

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