The Frieze Inscription

The frieze, also known as the "ornamental band," is part of the wall decoration of the Cathedral. Frieze inscriptions were extensively used in European churches and public buildings throughout the centuries. This inscription, translated from Latin, honors Saint Joseph and describes the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt to escape King Herod. Beginning at the northwest transept wall, the inscription reads:

ANGELVS DOMINI APPARVIT IN SOMNIS JOSEPH

NOLI TIMERE ACCIPERE MARIAM CONIVGEM TVAM EXSVRGENS JOSEPH A SOMNO FECIT SICVT PRÆCEPIT EI ANGELVS DOMINI ET ACCEPIT CONIVGEM SVAM

FVTVRVM EST VT HERODES QVÆRAT PVERVM AD PERDENDVM EVM QVI CONSVRGENS ACCEPIT PVERM ET MATREM EIVS NOCTE ET SECESSIT IN ÆGYPTVM

DIXIT MATER EIVS ECCE PATER TVVS ET EGO DOLENTES QVÆREBAMVS TE. DESCENDIT CVM EIS ET VENIT NAZARET ET ERAT SVBDITVS ILLIS

ET JESVS PVTABATVR FILIVS JOSEPH

---Translation---

AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED IN SLEEP TO JOSEPH

FEAR NOT, TAKE UNTO MARY THY WIFE. JOSEPH RISING FROM SLEEP DID AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD DEMANDED OF HIM AND TOOK UNDER HIM HIS WIFE

IT WILL COME TO PASS THAT HEROD WILL SEEK THE CHILD TO DESTROY HIM: WHO AROSE AND TOOK THE CHILD AND HIS MOTHER INTO EGYPT

HIS MOTHER SAID TO HIM, BEHOLD, THY FATHER AND I HAVE SOUGHT THEE SORROWING. HE WENT DOWN WITH THEM AND CAME TO NAZARETH, AND WAS SUBJECT TO THEM

AND JESUS WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE SON OF JOSEPH.