Western Medieval Manuscripts : Akolouthia of St. Kyriaki (7th July)

Akolouthia of St. Kyriaki (7th July) (Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 1880.12)

This fragment is made up of three quires containing the Akolouthia of St Kyriaki Martyr (7th July). An ἀκολουθία is the collection of hymnographic-poetic texts used by the church to celebrate a saint on his or her feast day in the service or office.

The fragment was acquired by Constantin von Tischendorf and bought from his heirs by Cambridge University Library in 1876.

Dr Matteo Di Franco

Information about this document

Physical Location: Cambridge University Library
Classmark: Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 1880.12
Alternative Identifier(s): Diktyon 77986
Subject(s): Propers (Liturgy)
Date of Creation: 17th century
Former Owner(s): Tischendorf, Constantin von, 1815-1874
Extent: Fragment (quire) 24 Leaf height: 202 mm, width: 148 mm.
Collation:
The fragment consists of three quaternions: Quires 1-3⁸ ff. 1r-24v
Material: ff. 1r-24v paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: crown with a star and a moon ( Watermark height: 65 mm, width: 37 mm. ) in the gutter, similar but not identical to Heawood 1131, whose countermark is a clover as well, but it differs from the one seen here. This example is undated, but similar watermarks date from second half of 16th until the early 17th century.
Format: Codex
Condition: There are extensive water and brown stains throughout the quires and some pest damge on the lower margins, in particular on the first quire. The fragment is now sewn into a white paper cover.
Binding:
The fragment is sewn into a white paper cover.
Script:
The text was copied in an upright mixed minuscule script, in black ink, slanting to the right and angular, executed with rapidity with moderate variation in letter size.
Alpha often has an open eyelet, beta is bilobate with separated loops, the lower one stretched forward, gamma is present in majuscule form along with the minuscule one. Majuscule delta has an elongated and curved trait, epsilon is rendered with a rod if preceding gamma or chi. Theta is in both the open and closed forms, rho is open and traced in continuity with ypsilon The modern eta, modern nu and sigma telikon are present. Minuscule pi is written with an horizontal formed by a stroke curving upwards from the left-hand loop and connected to it by a vertical line. Psi has a cross-shape. The sigma telikon is present and so is iota mutum, though without consistency. Breathings are curved; accents do not join to letters or breathings.
This script has various similarities to that of the manuscript Cambridge, Christ's College, MS Rouse 263.
Foliation:
The quires are foliated with the numbers 1-24, in Arabic numerals, in pencil, recto, upper right.
Layout: One columns of 20 lines. Written height: 156 mm, width: 97 mm.
Decoration: One rope motif headpiece on f. 1r, outlined in black ink and points in red ink. A large pyle on f. 2v in black and red ink.
Decorated major initials in red ink on ff. 22v and 23v.
Coloured unicial initials in red ink throughout the quires.
Additions: The classmark and former classmark "T.28" have been added in the upper margin. Scattered scribbles, wider on ff. 2r and 24r.
Provenance: The fragment was in the possession of the Biblical scholar Constantin von Tischendorf (1815-1874).
Origin: The style of script suggest that the fragment was written in the 17th century.
Acquisition: Bought by the University Library from Tischendorf's executors in 1876.
Funding: The Polonsky Foundation
Data Source(s): Description based on P. Easterling, Hand-list of the additional Greek manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge, in: Scriptorium 16, 1962, pp. 302-323: 307-308.
Author(s) of the Record: Matteo Di Franco
Excerpts:
Rubric: f. 1r Ἀκολουθία τῆς ἁγίας μάρτυρος Κυριακῆς ἐσπέρας εἰς τὸν μικρὸν ἐσπερινὸν ιστῶμεν(!) στίχους δ ἦχος δ ως γεναῖον εν μάρτυσιν αθλοφορε [γεωργιε](!)
Incipit: f. 1r Πολυόδυνα(!) βάσανα. ὑποστᾶσα Πανένδοξε· ανδρικῶ φρονήματι ηὐτομόλησας· καὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων σεβάσματα
Explicit: f. 24r ὕπαγε εἰς εἰρήνην, καὶ ἴσθι ὑγιὴς ἀπὸ τῆς μάστιγός σου. Κοινωνικόν Εις(!) μνημόσυνον
Bibliography:
Easterling, Patricia E., "Hand-list of the additional Greek manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge", Scriptorium 16 2 302-323 (1962).

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Information about this document

Physical Location: Cambridge University Library
Classmark: Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 1880.12
Alternative Identifier(s): Diktyon 77986
Subject(s): Propers (Liturgy)
Date of Creation: 17th century
Former Owner(s): Tischendorf, Constantin von, 1815-1874
Extent: Fragment (quire) 24 Leaf height: 202 mm, width: 148 mm.
Collation:
The fragment consists of three quaternions: Quires 1-3⁸ ff. 1r-24v
Material: ff. 1r-24v paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: crown with a star and a moon ( Watermark height: 65 mm, width: 37 mm. ) in the gutter, similar but not identical to Heawood 1131, whose countermark is a clover as well, but it differs from the one seen here. This example is undated, but similar watermarks date from second half of 16th until the early 17th century.
Format: Codex
Condition: There are extensive water and brown stains throughout the quires and some pest damge on the lower margins, in particular on the first quire. The fragment is now sewn into a white paper cover.
Binding:
The fragment is sewn into a white paper cover.
Script:
The text was copied in an upright mixed minuscule script, in black ink, slanting to the right and angular, executed with rapidity with moderate variation in letter size.
Alpha often has an open eyelet, beta is bilobate with separated loops, the lower one stretched forward, gamma is present in majuscule form along with the minuscule one. Majuscule delta has an elongated and curved trait, epsilon is rendered with a rod if preceding gamma or chi. Theta is in both the open and closed forms, rho is open and traced in continuity with ypsilon The modern eta, modern nu and sigma telikon are present. Minuscule pi is written with an horizontal formed by a stroke curving upwards from the left-hand loop and connected to it by a vertical line. Psi has a cross-shape. The sigma telikon is present and so is iota mutum, though without consistency. Breathings are curved; accents do not join to letters or breathings.
This script has various similarities to that of the manuscript Cambridge, Christ's College, MS Rouse 263.
Foliation:
The quires are foliated with the numbers 1-24, in Arabic numerals, in pencil, recto, upper right.
Layout: One columns of 20 lines. Written height: 156 mm, width: 97 mm.
Decoration: One rope motif headpiece on f. 1r, outlined in black ink and points in red ink. A large pyle on f. 2v in black and red ink.
Decorated major initials in red ink on ff. 22v and 23v.
Coloured unicial initials in red ink throughout the quires.
Additions: The classmark and former classmark "T.28" have been added in the upper margin. Scattered scribbles, wider on ff. 2r and 24r.
Provenance: The fragment was in the possession of the Biblical scholar Constantin von Tischendorf (1815-1874).
Origin: The style of script suggest that the fragment was written in the 17th century.
Acquisition: Bought by the University Library from Tischendorf's executors in 1876.
Funding: The Polonsky Foundation
Data Source(s): Description based on P. Easterling, Hand-list of the additional Greek manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge, in: Scriptorium 16, 1962, pp. 302-323: 307-308.
Author(s) of the Record: Matteo Di Franco
Excerpts:
Rubric: f. 1r Ἀκολουθία τῆς ἁγίας μάρτυρος Κυριακῆς ἐσπέρας εἰς τὸν μικρὸν ἐσπερινὸν ιστῶμεν(!) στίχους δ ἦχος δ ως γεναῖον εν μάρτυσιν αθλοφορε [γεωργιε](!)
Incipit: f. 1r Πολυόδυνα(!) βάσανα. ὑποστᾶσα Πανένδοξε· ανδρικῶ φρονήματι ηὐτομόλησας· καὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων σεβάσματα
Explicit: f. 24r ὕπαγε εἰς εἰρήνην, καὶ ἴσθι ὑγιὴς ἀπὸ τῆς μάστιγός σου. Κοινωνικόν Εις(!) μνημόσυνον
Bibliography:
Easterling, Patricia E., "Hand-list of the additional Greek manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge", Scriptorium 16 2 302-323 (1962).