Inscribed on the book which St John is holding: "IN PRIN ET: VER CIPIO: EBV: ERA RAT: VEAPVD: DRBVM: EV: ET: V" IN PRINCIPIO ERAT VERBUM, ET VERBUM ERAT APUD DEUM, ET DEUS ERAT VERBUM. which translates as In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. (Gospel of St John Chapter 1 verse 1).