Manuel I, after returning from Ikonion, asked bishops privately about the monk Niphon. Most told him the truth about Niphon's heretical views, while Kosmas II praised him. Manuel then asked the bishops formally: they condemned Niphon for impiety, while Kosmas still praised him. Some archbishops saw Kosmas consorting with Niphon, and asked the emperor to call a council. Kosmas was examined in a council presided over by Manuel in the Blachernai palace. There were nine lay officials present plus the emperor, and 33 senior prelates (as well as Kosmas). Manuel asked Kosmas about Niphon, and he replied that he was orthodox. Metropolitans condemned by Choniates as unrighteous seized on this, and the council decided it was enough proof, determining that Kosmas had the same beliefs as the Bogomil Niphon, and so should be deposed. After deposition, Kosmas looked round the council, and cursed the womb of the empress Eirene not to bear a male son. Then he excommunicated some of the imperial family and the council as imperial sycophants who had deposed him uncanonically. Stephanos Kontostephanos, Manuel's brother-in-law, was very angry at the curse, and rushed at Kosmas planning to punch him; but he stopped in time. Manuel, the rest of the family and other members of the council showed disapproval of Stephanos' impiety, though they too were furious at Kosmas. Kosmas told them to let Stephanos be, for he had not yet suffered his stony fate (a prophecy of his death). Manuel, probably conscience-stricken that Kosmas was a good and devout man badly treated, merely deposed him without further punishment, alleging as his only reason the deprivation of an heir