The Shroud of Turin, purportedly showing Jesus' face and body, has been accepted by many as his burial cloth. What do modern tests reveal about this ancient artifact?

The Shroud of Turin, a simple piece of linen cloth believed by many to be the actual burial cloth wrapped around Jesus' body when he was interred, has been a mystery and a controversial object since it was first found and displayed around 1350.

Allegations of Fraud

Allegations of fraud were first mentioned in 1389 when Pierre dArcis, the Bishop of Troyes, wrote to the Pope asserting that the Shroud was a fake being used as a marketing strategy to bring in money from the sale of souvenirs. Eventually the Pope decreed that the Shroud could be displayed but each time those viewing it had to be informed that it was not the real burial cloth of Jesus but rather an artist's rendering.

Shroud of Turin Moved for Safety Reasons

Moved to various locations in the 15th and 16th centuries for protection from war, the Shroud of Turin was finally housed in the Sainte Chapelle of the Holy Shroud in Chambery, France. In 1532, the Shroud was involved in a fire in the chapel but escaped with only a burn stain and a small hole left by drops of molten silver from the melted chest that held it. In an effort to strengthen the cloth, Nuns sewed 16 patches onto the Shroud. These would later add mystery to the Shroud of Turin's true age.

In 1694, a permanent home was prepared for the Shroud of Turin at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. The Shroud was housed in an ornate silver chest which was inside a wooden box. The box was placed behind a metal grill with three locks. The whole elaborate setting was inside a black marble chapel at the back of the cathedral. The Shroud of Turin remained so housed for several centuries.

The Astonishing Photograph of the Shroud of Turin

In May of 1898, the Shroud of Turin was allowed to be photographed and what showed up was astonishing. The negative photo plate actually showed a more detailed, almost 3D impression of a man's face than could be seen with the naked eye. This unusual photograph led to a renewed interest in the Shroud of Turin and debates began again as to the authenticity of the Shroud.

Finally, in December of 2003, Dr. Raymond Rogers verified that the samples used in the 1988 tests had actually come from the Nuns' patches that had been applied to the Shroud of Turin after the fire in 1532. Rogers then tested fibers taken from the actual cloth rather than the patches and found them to be between 1300 and 3000 years old. Indications of real blood were also found on the Shroud. If the Shroud of Turin was indeed this old, it would be old enough to have been around in Jesus' time and could indeed be Jesus' burial cloth.

While the truth may never be totally revealed, many believers today have accepted the Shroud of Turin as Christ's burial cloth and feel that the image on it is indeed that of Jesus Christ, put there by divine intervention.