Manuel consulted widely among the imperial family, the senate and the high clergy on the choice of a new patriarch to replace the deceased Leon Stypes. Though there were many good candidates, the almost unanimous first choice for virtue and religious education was Michael Kourkouas from the monastery of Oxeia. When Michael was hesitant in accepting the charge, the Theotokos showed a physical sign of approval by moving her robe. As soon as he was installed, Michael crowned Manuel, anointing his own anointer. Manuel gave the clergy a kentenarion as a donative and offered two kentenaria per year as "second money". The mystic marriage of the patriarch with the church was celebrated by Michael Italikos with an encomium in the form of an epithalamion. There followed many ceremonies, bringing much joy and benefit to the empire