Shapes, Forms, and Uses of the Akathistos Hymn in Eighteenth-Century Romanian Manuscripts and Printed Books
Shapes, Forms, and Uses of the Akathistos Hymn in Eighteenth-Century Romanian Manuscripts and Printed Books

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the diffusion, reading practices, and uses of the Akathistos Hymn in eighteenth-century Romanian manuscripts and printed books. The first part analyses the material and textual features of both printed and manuscript versions, focusing on book format, ornamentation, illustrations, and accompanying texts. The second part explores how readers and reading practices are constructed within the paratexts of the Akathistos (its prefaces, instructions, and associated poems) and considers evidence for the identities and habits of scribes and actual readers. Finally, the study investigates how various narratives and engravings shaped contemporary interpretations of the Akathistos and guided its devotional use in eighteenth-century Romanian culture.

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