Stole (Epitrachelion) with Scenes from the Akathist Hymn

Description Epitrachelia are liturgical stoles worn only by priests and bishops. This one was specially made for a metropolitan of Cyzicus in Asia Minor. Rather than with the more usual images of saints (cf. Walters 83.315), it is embroidered with illustrations of the 24 strophes of the Akathist, a hymn in praise of the Virgin Mary. The beginning of each strophe is inscribed under the respective scene.

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
5/13/1952	Treatment	cleaned
3/08/1985	Examination	examined for condition

Exhibitions

• Early Christian and Byzantine Art. Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore. 1947.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore, [date of acquisition unknown] by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Transcription] + Τοῦ πανιεροτάτου κ(αὶ) λογιω/τάτου μ(ητ)ροπολίτου Κυζίκου / κυρίου Μ(ητ)ροφάνους τοῦ ἐκ Θη/βῶν τῆς Βοιωτίας κτῆ/μα ἱερὸν ἐστὶ τοῦτο / ἐν ἔτει ,αχξζ᾿;[Translation] This is a sacred possession of the most holy and most learned metropolitan of Cyzicus, Metrophanes from Thebes in Boeotia, in the year 1667.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters