Why can't i usurp the Byzantine Empire

[Seylinian]

Hello, i'm trying to usurp the byzantine empire to recreate ancient Rome's borders.

I'm currently Emperor of Francia and there isn't anybody left in the game that is Orthodox (only a few Iconoclasts left, even the current byzantine emperor is Christian) i converted to Iconoclast but it seems like i'm not considered Orthodox (culture is french).
What is the Hellenic Religion ? Is there still a way for me to usurp the Byzantine Empire ?


DLC owned : Holy Fury, The Reaper's Due, Conclave, Way of Life, Charlemagne, The Old Gods
(first post btw)

 

[Voidlord]

Iconoclast is the Heresy of Orthodox. You must be Orthodox. Hellenic is a rare religion to that is very hard to convert to

 

[Seylinian]

Okay is there a way to convert from iconoclast to orthodox ? There isn't any orthodox left in my game.

 

[Karlington]

Okay is there a way to convert from iconoclast to orthodox ? There isn't any orthodox left in my game.

Through random heresy events. Check https://ck2.paradoxwikis.com/Religious_conversion for more.

Is there not a single Orthodox character OR county left in the entire game?

 

[Seylinian]

Not a single orthodox character idk about counties i'll look into that. So if i understand correctly what the wiki says my only onption is to own constantinople and convert to orthodox from the holy site


Edit : i found some orthodow characters i didn't see i had the gender filter on woman, ty for your help guys

 

[AlexArgos]

even the current byzantine emperor is Christian

I hope you mean Catholic, because Orthodoxy is part of Christianity.

 

[Seylinian]

Oops yes you're right, i meant Catholic

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

Ecumenical Patriarch always exists (except it's replaced by Iconoclast Patrarch in the 769 start.)

Even then you should be able to abandon heresy. If you cannot (Iconoclast has replaced Orthodox) make a few vassals Iconoclast and convert back to Catholic to keep Iconoclast MA low. Someone will eventually adopt Orthodox.

Also isn't the Varangian Guard around? Those guys are almost always Orthodox and will still exist even if the Byz dissolves.

Send children to be educated by them, or invite people in their court to act as guardians.