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.
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