Baanes was born in Armenia in the mid-8th century. His father was of Jewish descent and had been proselytized into the Paulician community, and his mother was Armenian, a disciple of the Paulician Joseph-Epaphroditos. He studied under Joseph-Epaphroditos and succeeded him as a teacher of the Paulicians, clashing with another teacher, Sergios-Tychikos. He died between 800/801 and 834/5.

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Chrysocheir was born during the first third of the 9th century. In 843-844 took refuge with his family in Melitene so as to escape from the persecution of the Paulicians. In 863 he succeeded his uncle to the leadership of the Paulicians. From 863 to 869 he raided against the Byzantine territories in western Asia Minor. In 871 he repelled attacks by the Byzantines against Tephrike. In 872, while returning from another invasion in Galatia, he was suddenly attacked by the Byzantines at Bathys Ryax...

Constantine was Armenian and was born in Mananali of Arsamosata or Samosata approximately in the beginning of the 7th century. Adherent of Manicheanism, he renounced the books of his religious community and tried to adopt its dogmas to the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. In around 655 he left his birthplace and settled in Kibossa in Kolonia, where he taught the new faith. Approximately in 682 he was arrested, following an order by emperor Constantine IV Pogonatos, and was stoned to death...

Gegnesios was born in the second half of the 7th century. Around 688 he and his father, Paul, along with his brother left Kibossa and took refuge in Episparis. In ca. 718 he was proclaimed third teacher of the Paulicians under the name Timotheos. He was interrogated as a possible heretic in Constantinople after 730 but managed to be acquitted. Later on he escaped with his students to Mananalis of Armenia, where he died, possibly in 748.

Karbeas was born around the early 9th century. At a young age, he served in the Byzantine army. In 843-844 he fled to the Arabs of Melitene in order to escape from the persecutions against the Paulicians launched by Empress Theodora. He organised the Paulician state with its capital Tephrike, the city he founded in the mid-9th century, while in 856 and 859 he repelled Byzantine attacks against his territory. Karbeas launched several raids against the Byzantines. He died in Tephrike in 863.

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Paul of Samosata was bishop of Antioch between 260 and 268 and a pronoetes (procurator ducenarius). His theological views were condemned by two councils, because he advocated only the human nature of Jesus. He was forced to leave his see in 272, by imperial intervention.

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