Quest to Revert Iconoclast

[Naughtius Maximus]

So I missed the revert to Orthodox decision as ERE (now RE,) I did not know there was a limit to when you can use the decision (900 AD)

So now I must revert the hard way. Not necessarily hard, really, as it allows me to purge all non Greeks and non dynasty members.

The problem is restoring the Patriarchate. Will he automatically appear once Orthodox becomes the primary religion? There is a special decision to restore the Patriarchate, but using it is suboptimal. I basically forfeit Constantinople and the Patriarch is independent. I can't vassalize him either as he is King tier.

Anybody have any ideas on how to return to Orthodox without sacrificing the richest county on the map?

 

[SaphireSeas]

I thought if you control b_hagiasophia, grant it to a bishop and wait, when he dies the bishopric goes to the EP. I seem to remember the EP became my vassal as well, but I could be wrong, as I have never been in this situation before.
Can you grant b_hagiasophia to the EP?
Are you playing Ironman(This is why I don't...)?

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

I am playing ironman