Visit to Chapel of Holy Shroud in Turin Italy

On reaching Turin, the first thing we did was to visit the chapel of Holy Shroud of Turin in Turin’s Duomo. We were dreading the queue we would have to face.

Here is where, what and how to see of Holy Shroud of Turin:

Where is Holy Shroud of Turin? The chapel of Shroud of Turin is located in the city of Turin, Italy. The holy shroud is housed in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, also known as the Turin Cathedral. The cathedral is situated in the historic center of Turin, near the Piazza Castello.

Visit chapel holy shroud Turin

Visit Chapel Holy Shroud Turin

What is the Holy Shroud? The Turin Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church that has been an important religious site for centuries. It is renowned worldwide as the home of the Shroud of Turin, a linen cloth believed by some to bear the image of Jesus Christ. The shroud is displayed in a specially designed container known as the Cappella della Sacra Sindone (Chapel of the Holy Shroud) within the cathedral.

How to see the Holy Shroud? Visitors who wish to see the Shroud of Turin can access it during periods when public exhibitions are held. These exhibitions are typically organized on special occasions, allowing individuals to view the shroud up close. However, it’s important to note that the shroud is usually kept in a protective case and is only displayed for limited periods of time due to its delicate nature.

Where was Shroud of Turin found? The exact origin of the Shroud of Turin is uncertain, and its history prior to the 14th century is subject to speculation and debate. The earliest reliable historical records place the shroud in Lirey, France, in the mid-14th century when it was owned by a French knight named Geoffrey de Charny. It was during this time that the shroud gained significant attention and began to be revered as a relic.

Turin Duomo

Turin Duomo

How old is the Turin shroud? The age of the Turin Shroud has been a subject of scientific investigation and debate. According to carbon dating conducted in 1988, the cloth was estimated to be from the 13th to 14th century. However, this dating result has been contested by some and is not universally accepted. The exact age of the Turin Shroud remains uncertain, and no definitive scientific consensus has been reached regarding its origin or the time period in which it was created.

How was the shroud of Turin made? The exact method by which the Shroud of Turin was made remains uncertain and is a subject of debate among experts. The shroud is a piece of linen cloth measuring approximately 4.4m long and 1.1m wide. It bears the faint image of a man with marks resembling those of crucifixion.

Several theories have been proposed regarding the creation of the shroud’s image.

  • One hypothesis suggests that it may have been created through a technique involving direct contact with a human body. This theory proposes that the body was wrapped in the cloth, and some form of energy or chemical reaction resulted in the image transfer.
  • Another hypothesis suggests the possibility of artistic creation, such as the use of pigments or dyes to paint the image onto the cloth.

It is important to note that despite extensive research, the exact technique or process used to create the Shroud of Turin’s image remains unknown.

Turin Cathedral

The Turin Cathedral is an architectural marvel, featuring a blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements. Its distinct bell tower and impressive façade make it a recognizable landmark in the city. Visitors to the cathedral can also explore its interior, which houses notable artworks and relics in addition to the Shroud of Turin.

Duomo Di San Giovanni was built between 1491 and 1498 on the site of three 14th century basilicas. The tower in the left is the bell tower designed by Juvarra and built in 1723. Admission was free and photography permitted without flash and tripods. The dim lighting in the interiors made the job of taking photographs difficult. The interior is extremely beautiful with huge paintings and statues.chapel of holy shroud
Visit chapel holy shroud

Photocopy of Holy Shroud

I was awed by the sight of the photocopy of Holy Shroud. The feeling is unexplainable. The Shroud of Turin (or Turin Shroud) is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion.

If this shroud is real then it is AMAZING and even if it is not true just imagine the knowledge and technique that must have gone into creating something like this, centuries back. The shroud has been a mystery ever since it was discovered.

Visit to Chapel of Holy Shroud in Turin Italy

Photocopy of Holy shroud displayed at a distance

Turin Italy

Interior of Turin Cathedral

Interior of chapel of holy shroud Turin Cathedral

This photocopy of the cloth of Jesus is on permanent display in front of Torino cathedral’s altar. The crowd around this was huge and bursting. No way could I reach it. So I took pictures from a distance with my zoom lens and unfortunately there were shakes in most of my pictures.

The forensic survey of the Shroud image shows that the man who was wrapped in it had been hit hours before the death. Various bruises are on the face with swelling more on the right side of it than on the left one.

Moreover, it shows marks of bruised wounds especially near the eyebrows. The nose is diverted due to a fracture above the eyebrow area and left and right cheek bones, a disfigurement of the right eye, seepage of blood from the mouth which appears somewhat distorted compared with the line of the eyebrows. The characteristic upside down y-shaped imprint on the forehead reveals a brow knitted in agony.

Photocopy of Holy shroud

Photocopy of Holy shroud

Several signs of seepage of blood from bruises caused by a small diameter point are in forehead, neck and hair. These bruises are radiating around the head to its top and seem to be caused by the imposition of a helmet of thorns. It is important to notice the seepage of blood at the center of the forehead from a wound of the frontal vein, in the shape of a reversed ‘3’, because it follows frontal wrinkles. The horizontal dark lines defining the face and the back are caused by some folds of the tissue.

More about Holy Shroud

The Shroud of Turin is an ancient linen cloth that bears the mysterious image of a crucified man, believed by millions to be Jesus of Nazareth. This artefact holds immense significance and has become the subject of extensive scientific examination, making it the most scrutinized relic in human history.

Normally, the Shroud is carefully preserved within a climate-controlled case in the Cappella della Santa Sindone, located within the Cattedrale di San Giovanni in Turin. However, on April 10, 2010, it was publicly displayed for the first time in a decade. This rare occasion attracted millions of visitors from around the globe, including the Pope, who made the pilgrimage to Turin to catch a glimpse of the revered Shroud.

Many adherents firmly believe that the Shroud is the very cloth that enveloped the body of Jesus Christ during his burial. In April 1997, a fire threatened to engulf the precious relic, but thanks to the heroic efforts of a firefighter, it was saved from significant damage.

Subsequently, in 2002, The Holy See initiated a restoration process, during which the cloth backing and thirty patches were removed. This restoration enabled the capture of photographs and scans of the previously hidden reverse side of the Shroud. It was during this examination in 2004 that a faint partial image of a body was discovered on the back of the Shroud, adding to its enigmatic nature.

The ongoing fascination surrounding the Shroud of Turin stems from its potential connection to the life and death of Jesus Christ. While scientific analyses and investigations continue to unravel its mysteries, the Shroud remains a captivating artifact that provokes contemplation and ignites discussions on faith, history, and the essence of human existence.

Is the Holy Shroud real?

After reading a lot and seeing the photocopy of Holy Shroud, a question constantly rings in mind – is the Holy Shroud real? Here is my take on it.

The authenticity of the Shroud of Turin has been a topic of intense debate and speculation for many years. While the Jesus face cloth itself exists and bears the image of a crucified man, determining its true origin and whether it is the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ remains uncertain.

Supporters argue that the shroud’s distinctive features, including the body image and bloodstains, suggest a connection to the crucifixion described in the Bible.

On the other hand, skeptics challenge the authenticity of Jesus burial cloth; proposing alternative theories such as artistic forgery, highlight inconsistencies in carbon dating results, discrepancies in historical records. Scientific analyses question the shroud’s age and the techniques used to create the image.

It’s important to note that conclusive evidence validating or debunking the shroud’s authenticity has not been established. The Catholic Church, for instance, has not officially endorsed or confirmed the authenticity of the cloth of Jesus but respects it as an object of veneration.

Ultimately, whether the Shroud of Turin is real or not remains a matter of personal belief and interpretation.

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