Introduction to the School of History:

The Shroud has a fully documented history since it was first revealed in Lirey, France in 1356. The Shroud history prior to this date has gaps that give rise to questions about its whereabouts during those gaps and its ultimate origin.

If it is authentic then it must have a history back to the First Century. If it is a medieval artwork then it must have a history originating only in the 1300’s. It is the latter that seems to confirm the carbon dating results. However what if it was repaired as indicated by Ray Rogers. (See School of Chemistry) What if the carbon date is in error as new data seems to indicate? Then there must be a historical trail that predates its arrival in France in 1356. The principal challenge for historians is to link the Shroud of Turin to Constantinople in 1204. That linkage would establish a historical trail at least back to the sixth century.

Questions and Topics for Students
  • When first revealed in France in 1356, it was owned by a Knight, Geoffroy de Charny who may have been a descendant of one of the leaders of the Knights Templar burned at the stake in 1314. One of hersey charges used against them was that they worshipped a mysterious image. Do the Templars play a role in the Shroud’s whereabouts after its disappearance in 1204? Do a paper on the Templars and how they might have been involved with preserving the Shroud during the “missing years”.
  • Could it have been the Shroud that was stolen from Constantinople in 1204 during the 4th Crusade? What evidence is there to support the cloth’s presence there prior to 1204? Are there alternate explanations as to the Shroud’s whereabouts prior to its arrival in France?
  • There was without question a cloth with an image of Christ on it that existed between 544 and 1204 in modern day Turkey. Is the Image of Edessa the same as the Shroud of Turin? Many historians believe this is the case.
  • The Doctrine of Addai or the Legend of Abgar may provide clues to a First Century origin of the Shroud. What are the clues to the Shroud’s existence prior to the sixth century?
  • Is the d’Arcis Memorandum really a credible document? Can it be used as “proof” that the Shroud is merely a painted forgery?
  • What does the Sudarium of Oviedo show regarding its relationship to the Shroud? If they can be related by blood, image or pollen, does it show an earlier origin for the Shroud?
  • Is there a possible link between the Holy Grail and the Shroud of Turin?

Featured Content
Ian Wilson (from 1989 Interview with Russ Breault)
Other Copies? (from Shroud Encounter)
Shroud Report Interview with Dr. Daniel Scavone
Origins of the Holy Grail--Lecture Given at Ohio State--May 24, 2006
Shroud Report Interview with Fr. Kim Dreisbach
Shroud Report Interview with Mark Guscin on the Sudarium of Oviedo
Opening of Shoud Exhibition in Turin in 1998
Early Historical References
Pollen Trail
 Pollen Trail Confirms The Historical Trail: Work of Dr. Avinoam Danin, Israeli Botanist
Hungarian Pray
 Hungarian Pray Manuscript: Visual Clues Confirming Shroud's Existence in Constantinople
Clues from Ancient Icon Images (from Shroud Encounter)
Clues from Historical Writings (from Shroud Encounter)
Clues from Hungarian Pray Manuscript (from Shroud Encounter)
Pollen, Flowers and the Historical Trail (from Shroud Encounter)
Articles

LINKS TO RELEVANT ARTICLES ON THE WEB:

Combined Review by Mark Antonacci and Patrick Byrne of recent books: “The Sign” by Thomas de Wesselow
and “Resurrected or Revived?” by Helmut Felzmann Link

A Summary of the Shroud’s History from Shroud.com

History Prior to 1204

The Mandylion and the Shroud by Russ Breault:

Addai delivering mysterious image to King Abgar.Evidence for the Shroud being in Constantinople Prior to 1204 by Dr. Daniel Scavone from Shroud.com

Liturgical Clues to the Shroud's History by The Rev. Albert R. Dreisbach, Jr. References from ancient liturgy indicate the Shroud was known during the first five centuries of the Church. From Shroud.com

Gospel of Gamaliel: Early Evidence for the Survival of Jesus’ Shroud by Dr. Daniel Scovone from Shroud.com

The Historical Trail from 544 From Shroudstory.com

Doctrine of Addai and How the Shroud may have Arrived in Edessa in the First Century. From Shroudstory.com

The Sermon of Gregory Referendarius by Mark Guscin. This sermon was delivered in 944 when the Image of Edessa arrived in Constantinople. Long thought to be only a face image, this sermon shows that it was a full body image similar to what we see on the Shroud. Are they one and the same? From Shroud.com

The Shroud shows a pattern of water stains that originate from a time when the cloth was apparently folded and kept in an ancient urn (think Dead Sea Scrolls). Do they provide clues to the cloth’s antiquity? "Further Studies on the Scorches and the Watermarks” by Aldo Guerreschi and Michele Salcito. From Shroud.com

A Knights Templar Connection? Templar leaders burned at the stake in 1314.

The Knights Templar Connection from Templarhistory.com

Where was the Shroud from 1204 to 1357? From Shroudstory.com

The d'Arcis Memorandum

Conspiracy Against the Shroud by Mark Markwardt From Shroud.com Part of this paper deals with the d’Arcis Memorandum a document from 1389 by the Bishop of Troyes alleging the Shroud was a painted forgery. However there is suspicious politics and intrigue involved creating a motive for the Bishop to make false accusations.

More on the d’Arcis Memorandum by Dr. Daniel Scavone. From Shroud.com

Was the Shroud in Languedoc During the Missing Years? by Jack Markwardt. From Shroud.com

A Link to the Holy Grail?

Is there link between the Grail legends and the search for the Shroud of Turin after it left Constantinople in 1204? Joseph of Arimathea, the Holy Grail and the Turin Shroud by Dr. Daniel Scavone. From Shroud.com

A Connection to the Sudarium of Oviedo?

Recent Historical Investigations on the Sudarium of Oviedo by Mark Guscin. From Shroud.com
Sudarium of Oviedo.

The Sudarium of Oviedo: Its History and Relationship to the Shroud of Turin by Mark Guscin. From Shroud.com

A Comparison Study of the Sudarium of Oviedo and the Shroud of Turin by Guillermo Heras Moreno. From Shroud.com

Why was it Restored in 2002?

In 2002 the Shroud was “restored” to much criticism by those who felt they were tampering with archaeological evidence. It was cleaned and the patches from the 1532 fire were removed and all charred edges were trimmed to eliminate the chance of more carbon being deposited on the cloth. The backing cloth from 1534 was removed and a new cloth was attached. In the following article, Mechthild Flury-Lemburg answers questions about the controversial restoration. From Shroud.comShroud repairs made in 2002.

The following article is a History of Events over a Ten Year Period Leading up to the 2002 Restoration by Bruno Barberis and Piero Savarino. From Shroud.com

Insights from the 2002 Restoration by Giuseppe Ghiberti. From Sindone.org

Other Articles

History of the Holy Shroud Guild by Father Adam Otterbein

A Calendar of the Shroud for the years 1509-1694 From Shroud.com

Geoffroy de Charny Did Not Obtain the Present Turin Shroud on the Smyrna Campaign of 1346 by Dr.R. Daniel Scavone. From Shroud.com

Objections to the Shroud’s Authenticity: The Carbon Date by Dr. Daniel Scavone. From Shroud.com



There are many more Journal articles listed in the Library in the Articles section. Many Journal articles cannot be linked here due to copyright restrictions. Scientific journal articles can be obtained from your school library or can be purchased from the publisher. Most schools subscribe to a journal sharing service where these articles can be accessed without a fee such as: http://www.jstor.org


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