Table of contents:
- 1. The first information about the Shroud we find in France during the Middle Ages
- 2. Almost immediately, the Pope declared that this was not a genuine historical relic
- 3. Why was Marguerite de Charny excommunicated?
- 4. Before the shroud moved to Turin, it was nearly destroyed by fire
- 5. The Shroud has been subjected to rigorous scientific research on several occasions in order to clarify the question of its authenticity
- 6. The shroud is protected by bulletproof glass
- 7. The Shroud has entered the digital age
Video: 7 controversial facts about the burial shroud of Jesus Christ: the Turin shroud
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
The Shroud of Turin is a four-meter piece of linen fabric on which the imprint of the human body is visible. Presumably, this shroud is the burial shroud of Jesus Christ. For some, this is a real shroud, for others it is something akin to a religious icon, which does not have to be a real shroud. In any case, this thing reflects part of the history of the Messiah. Leaving the scientific controversy about the authenticity of this item to the experts, let us explore better the more curious aspects of the history of the shroud from Turin.
More than six hundred years have passed since the first mention of the Turin Shroud in historical documents. Despite this, it is still one of the most important religious symbols of the entire world Christianity.
1. The first information about the Shroud we find in France during the Middle Ages
The first historically confirmed data on the Shroud of Turin originate in the French city of Lirey, in the middle of the 14th century. The story goes that a French knight named Geoffroy de Charny presented it to the dean of the church at Lyray. The knight claimed that these were the original burial shroud of Jesus Christ. Until now, it remains unclear where de Charny took the shroud, and where it was all this time. After all, 1,300 years have passed since the death of Jesus on the cross. Besides, how did this shroud end up outside Jerusalem?
2. Almost immediately, the Pope declared that this was not a genuine historical relic
After the Shroud was put up by the Church of Liraeus, it began to attract a huge number of pilgrims, as well as bring tangible profits. However, many prominent church officials considered the shroud to be nothing more than a fake.
In 1389, Pierre d'Arzis, Bishop of Troyes, even wrote a letter to Pope Clement VII, where he said that he had found one artist who confessed that he had made this shroud. In addition, d'Arzis claimed that the dean of the Lyray church knew that it was a fake, but still decided to use it - after all, it brought a very significant income. The pope reacted by declaring the shroud to be a fake. However, he said the Lirey Church could continue to display the shroud if it admits that it is only an artificially created religious "icon" and not a historical "relic." According to the position of the modern Catholic Church, which the pope expresses, the shroud is still called an "icon".
3. Why was Marguerite de Charny excommunicated?
In 1418, the Hundred Years War was going on. Since she could reach the town of Lyray, the granddaughter of Geoffroy de Charny, Margaret de Charny and her husband, offered to take the shroud for safekeeping. Margaret's husband wrote a receipt, where he admitted that the shroud is in fact a fake and he undertakes to return it as soon as the danger has passed. However, later Margaret refused to return the shroud to the church and went on a journey with her, presenting it as the real burial shroud of Jesus.
In 1453, Margaret de Charny decides to sell this valuable artifact to the Italian royal family. In return, she received two locks and some other valuables. For this deal, the official Catholic Church punished Margaret with excommunication.
4. Before the shroud moved to Turin, it was nearly destroyed by fire
Since the beginning of the 16th century, the shroud has been stored in Sainte-Chapelle, Chambery (now part of France). In 1532, a fire broke out in this chapel. He melted some of the silver in the container where the shroud was kept. Molten metal dripped onto the shroud and burned through it. Traces from this, as well as from the water used to extinguish the fire, are visible on the shroud today.
In the second half of the 16th century, the shroud was moved to storage in the Cathedral of John the Baptist, which is located in Turin. Now it is a territory belonging to modern Italy. The artifact remains there to this day. It was only during the Second World War that the storage location of this historical value had to be changed.
5. The Shroud has been subjected to rigorous scientific research on several occasions in order to clarify the question of its authenticity
Although Pope Clement VII declared the shroud to be fake back in the distant 14th century, there was no end to disputes about its authenticity. Since the 20th century, people have had endless discussions about this. Many copies were broken. Adherents of opposite theories, on both sides of the barricades, could now argue their position based on scientific research.
In the seventies of the last century, a group of researchers from the "Shroud of Turin" project stated that the print on the fabric is fully consistent with the crucified body. They also carried out an analysis and found out that the blood stains on the shroud are real human blood. In 1988, several prominent scientists analyzed the fabric of the Turin Shroud.
The conclusions that were made were diametrically opposite. Some researchers stated that the shroud was created at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Others claimed that according to their research and analysis, the fabric was made between 300 BC and 400 AD. In 2018, researchers resorted to modern forensic science to try to make a compelling case that the bloodstains on the shroud cannot belong to Jesus.
6. The shroud is protected by bulletproof glass
Increased security measures are used to protect the Turin Shroud. It is rarely shown to the public and is guarded by security cameras and bulletproof glass. The latter almost caused the destruction of the priceless artifact. In 1997, a fire broke out in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Firefighters had to break through four layers of bulletproof glass to save the shroud.
7. The Shroud has entered the digital age
In April of this year, Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin made an important announcement. He said that because of all the sad events that have shocked the world lately, people just need to see this relic, touch it, at least virtually. Therefore, on Easter, everyone could look at the Turin Shroud online.
Read more about attempts to unravel the mystery of the authenticity of the Turin Shroud, read in our article 7 scientific attempts to solve the mystery of the Turin Shroud.
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