serge zenkovsky hails epiphanius' writings as "a new page in russian literary history". it is often thought that epiphanius' new style was influenced by the contemporary surge in russian painting, and it has been noted that epiphanius was a great admirer of theophanes the greek. a 1413 letter of epiphanius, who knew theophanes, to st. cyril of beloozero provides the principal source of information about the great icon painter.