2010 Website News


These are the items that were included on the "Late Breaking Website News" page in 2010. Items are listed with the most recent one first, and each article carries the posting date indicating when it was first uploaded. You should find this an interesting look at the important Shroud and Website events in 2010.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

We just discovered that we have been having a problem with our Secure Order Form and our Secure Contribution Form. The problem was that the form was not submitting your orders or contributions to us, even though you received a response page that said it had been submitted. No security risks were posed since your information was never transmitted, but that also means we never received it so we don't know who you are. If you submitted an order or made a contribution between September 1 through November 15th and never received a response, please resubmit your order/contribution or contact me directly using the "Open E-mail Form" link on the Send Us E-mail page or call me at 719-689-2217. We have since resolved the problem and everything is now working properly.

Updated November 18, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI Appoints New Shroud Custodian

The following article, titled "Benedict XVI appoints new custodian of the Holy Shroud of Turin" is courtesy of the Catholic News Agency:

Vatican City, Oct 12, 2010 / 09:54 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Vicenza as the new Archbishop of Turin. The appointment makes Archbishop Nosiglia the new custodian of the Shroud of Turin. He will succeed Cardinal Severino Poletto, who submitted his resignation upon reaching the retirement age of 75.

The new Archbishop of Turin was born on October 5, 1944 in Rossiglione, Italy in the Diocese of Acqui. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1968 and was named Auxiliary Bishop of Rome on July 6, 1991. He was ordained a bishop on December 14 of the same year.

On October 6, 2003 he was transferred to the Diocese of Vicenza. Among the posts he has held are president of the National Council of Catholic Schools, president of the International Organization of Catholic Education, delegate of the Council of European Bishops of Europe for Catechesis and Campus Ministry.

He is currently the vice president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, a post he has held since May of this year.

Posted November 1, 2010

Reflections On The Shroud - New Page Added to Shroud.com

People from all walks of life have devoted their time and efforts to researching, investigating, experimenting on and writing about the Shroud of Turin. STERA, Inc. thought it would be worthwhile to create a new page on this website where those who have devoted themselves to understanding the Shroud can express their personal stories and reflect on how the Shroud has impacted their lives. Rather than asking each person to write a story, we opted to use a questionnaire as a platform for these reflections. You will find the first twenty-seven responses on the new Reflections On The Shroud page of this site, now permanently accessible via the Main Menu.

I would like to thank Laura Clark for conceiving and designing the questionnaire and Joe Marino for organizing everything and sending out the forms to the sindonologists on his extensive mailing list. Without their efforts this new page would not exist. Most importantly, I would like to thank each of you who took the time to express your personal reflections on the Shroud of Turin and share them with us on this website.

Posted November 1, 2010

Ancient Bleaching Citations

Over the past five years, there has been much discussion and debate regarding certain references made by Ray Rogers to the works of Pliny the Elder and his descriptions of the ancient methods used for bleaching and preparing linen. I was fortunate to spend five days as a guest in Ray's home in 2004, about eight months before his death, and the issue of these references came up in our conversation. Ray was very frustrated, since he could not find the original references again after citing them in his work. Knowing Ray as an extremely dedicated and meticulous researcher, there was no doubt he originally had cited valid data, but it was several years later and he was very ill at the time. He made several attempts in the last year of his life to find those specific references again, because they had sparked some serious criticism by certain researchers, but it was to no avail. Ray was the consummate empirical scientist and he desperately wanted to provide the precise data he had originally quoted. Sadly, he passed away without ever finding his original sources again.

This issue has long been a topic of discussion by the online Shroud Science Group and recently, archaeologist Bill Meacham, who had been researching this topic himself, reported that he had found the elusive references and kindly posted them to the group. I immediately wrote and asked Bill for the full citations and now, with his kind permsission, I am happy to reprint his reply, including the full references, in a short article titled "Ancient Bleaching Citations" so they are now readily available to everyone. I am sure that Ray would be very pleased as well. I have also included links to the article from the Website Library and Scientific Papers & Articles pages of the site.

Posted November 1, 2010

A Copy Of The Shroud In Lebanon

 Msgr. Giuseppe Ghiberti and Farés Melki Meet in Beirut, Lebanon
©2010 Farés Melki

As I have reported previously, Farés Melki operates the premiere Arabic language website on the Shroud of Turin, www.kafanalmassih.org, and he graciously sends us regular updates with English language translations of relevant Shroud news from the Middle East. On September 30, 2010, he sent us the following message:

I just learned from the newspapers today the arrival of Msgr. Giuseppe Ghiberti to Beirut with an original copy of the Shroud to be offered to the Armenian Catholic Church in Lebanon. The copy will be displayed permanently in the church of St. Gregorius and Elia for the Armenian Catholics in Beirut.

Later that same day Farés was kind enough to send us an English translation of an article by Hala Homsi that appeared in Annahar, a Lebanese newspaper, that provided further details on Msgr. Ghiberti's visit to Beirut. Farés also met with Msgr. Ghiberti himself and provided us with a brief overview and some photographs of that meeting. I have taken the liberty of compiling the newspaper article and Farés' report into a single pdf file which you can find at this link: The Shroud In Lebanon. I would also like to thank Farés again for his ongoing, excellent contributions.

Posted November 1, 2010

New 16 Language Shroud DVD Program Available

The last update was a large one, but even then I missed a few important items that should have been included. Regretfully, such is the case with the excellent 35 minute video program produced this year by the Chemin Neuf Community and the International Ecumenical Fraternity (in France) titled: "He is the Image of the Invisible God: The Shroud of Turin." I have now added it to the Videos and DVD's section of the Website Store page. It is available on a single DVD that gives you a choice of viewing the program in 16 different languages and includes interviews with Thibault Heimburger, Ed Prior, Sebastian Cataldo, myself and several others. It covers many aspects of the Shroud, the 2010 exhibition, and issues of faith and science. I recently put Pete Schumacher in touch with the organization and he is now using the multi-lingual DVD in a touchscreen kiosk at his Shroud Exhibit and Museum in Alamagordo, New Mexico.

Posted November 1, 2010

Links To More Information Page Updated

I am pleased to announce that I have updated the Links To More Information page with the addition of two new links and a recently updated one.

This first item is a link to Russ Breault's excellent ShroudUniversity.com website, which has recently been updated to include 20 hours of streaming video with complete coverage of the 1991 Shroud of Turin Symposium held on the campus of St. Louis University on June 22-23, 1991. The program, produced and videotaped by Paul Bershon, boasts a long list of noted Shroud scholars and researchers that include Dr. John Jackson, Rev. Kenneth Stevenson, Dr. Robert Dinegar, Dr. David Mayschak, Bro. Bruno Bonnet-Eymard, Dame Isabel Piczek, Barbara Sullivan, Dr. Daniel Scavone, Dr. Alan Whanger, Mario Moroni, Rex Morgan, Rev. Albert Dreisbach, Dr. W.S.A. Dale, Dr. Phillip Callahan, Frank Tribbe, Paul Maloney and several break out Q&A Sessions. Russ continues to be the primary provider of important Shroud related media online. His next project is to digitize and make available a video of the 1993 Rome Shroud Conference, which we will be looking forward to seeing in the near future. Thanks Russ!

The next link is to a new iPhone application from Catholic iPhone.com that includes some basic information about the Shroud. The application is called Answers 4 Catholics and is available from iTunes as a $1.99 download. Rennie Pelkie, the creator of the application, contacted me recently and asked me to provide some basic written Shroud information and links, which you will find in the The Guest Article and Statues, Icons and Relics Categories included in the application. Here are the technical requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.

This final link is to a new website by Petrus Soons, the researcher responsible for the dramatic holographic images of the Shroud that were originally unveiled at the Ohio Shroud Conference in 2008 and which are now part of the permanent Shroud exhibits in Jerusalem, Rome and Sacramento, California. The new site is named The Shroud of Turin In 3D and this is the abstract that appears on the home page:

This website summarizes work connected with digitizing Shroud photographs taken by Giuseppe Enrie in 1931, enhancing the digitized images to improve details, translating the enhanced images “gray scale data into depth data”, generating a sequence of up to 625 images of each of these, and combining these images with a Holoprinter to produce holograms (3D images) of the Shroud. It also summarizes my study of these holograms and discovery of heretofore unseen details, which confirm many previous findings and reveal some surprises.

As is typical with just about anything new regarding the Shroud of Turin, this site has sparked some rather heated debate amongst sindonologists. Some have expressed concerns because the process used to create the Shroud holographic images has not been documented in detail and presented in a scientific manner. Others have noted that some level of artistic techniques and retouching were applied in the creation of the final images, thus making it difficult to consider them "research quality" and draw any serious scientific conclusions from them or use them to claim any new discoveries on the Shroud. I guess the real question comes down to whether these holographic images are more the result of science or art, and that issue has yet to be resolved. However, the 3D visual results presented on this website are still dramatic and breathtaking and well worth your time. Petrus has provided many high quality images, including several anaglyph 3D images (these require a pair of red/cyan 3D glasses for proper viewing) and his slowly rotating video clips of the Shroud in 3D are truly spectacular. As for the scientific validity of the claims made on the website, you will have to decide that for yourself.

Posted November 1, 2010

England Shroud Exhibit Scheduled For Wells Cathedral In 2011

Wells Cathedral

I am grateful to Juliet Faith, author of 2009's The Knights Templar In Somerset, for sending me this information recently:

"I was just writing to let you know that Wells Cathedral (in Somerset, England) have agreed for Pam Moon to bring her Shroud Exhibition to Wells Cathedral on 15th - 29th April 2011, which of course coincides with Easter. She tells me she has never had an exhibition running over Easter before, so it is quite exciting, particularly as Wells Cathedral has an amazing octagonal Chapter House, which is where the Exhibition will be held."

For those who might not remember, Pam Moon designed and built a beautiful Shroud Exhibit that included a lifesize Shroud replica, many large photographs, implements of the Passion and much more, and displayed it in her husband's Anglican church in West Midlands, England several years ago. Shortly thereafter, the local Catholic Bishop saw the exhibit and ever since it has been moved and shown in bigger and more beautiful cathedrals. In fact, earlier this year the Exhibit was shown at Westminster Cathedral and Pam sent me some photographs of the event, which I am including at this link: Westminster Photos. So it is great to know that those of you in the U.K. will get to see this beautiful Shroud exhibit next year, and in such a beautiful location. It is even nicer to see that Anglicans and Catholics are working together to bring information about this important relic to a broader public. Thanks Juliet for letting us know and congratulations Pam on the great success of your exhibit!

Posted November 1, 2010

News From STERA, Inc.

As STERA, Inc., approaches the end of its first year of operation, I am pleased to report that we are making excellent progress in working to achieve our long term goals. The Archiving Project is still in its early stages, but we are already putting together the team we will need to archive and make available the important collections of Shroud materials currently in our care. Our next Board of Directors meeting will occur later in November and one of the tasks will be to formalize our Editorial Review Committee. We will also be discussing the development of our grant proposal for the funding of the Archiving Project and setting deadlines for its completion. However, all of this will take time and STERA, Inc. needs to continue supporting the website and the other work we are doing. And that is where you, the website viewers, can help.

As I said in my September 7, 2010 News From STERA, Inc. report, fundraising is an ongoing process for every non-profit organization, and we are no exception (especially in such troubled financial times). We still need your participation and support to continue the work we have begun. And of course, we still need your fully tax deductible contributions. As you know, Shroud.com is free of any advertising and is supported by its viewers. If you appreciate the content and the approach of this website, if you find the materials useful or thought provoking or just interesting, then become a supporter and help to keep it that way.

Remember that any contributions you make by December 31, 2010 are fully deductible on this year's income tax (in the U.S.). As you know, you can safely contribute online using our 256 bit encrypted Secure Contribution Form or by mail using the MAIL a Tax Deductible Contribution to STERA, Inc. form we provide. And, as an encouragement for your support, we are now offering a range of gifts for those of you who make contributions to STERA, Inc. (See below). In the end, the success of this website and of STERA, Inc., is in your hands.

Contribution - - - - - - Free Gift
$100.00 - $299.00 - Set of 2 Shroud Lithographs
$300.00 - $599.00 - Shroud Lithographic Poster
$600.00 - $999.00 - Both Lithographs and Poster
$1000.00 (or more) - All the above plus Miniature Shroud Replica on Cotton
Posted November 1, 2010

And Finally...

The next update to the website will come on January 21, 2011 and will mark the 15th Anniversary of Shroud.com. It is still hard for me to believe we have been online for so many years, but we can talk about that in the next update! Seriously, since I probably won't be talking to you again until next year, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for your continued participation, loyalty and support and wish all of you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and healthy New Year! See you in January!

Barrie Schwortz
Editor
Posted November 1, 2010

Long Overdue Update Now Online

I hope you are having a wonderful summer! I have been literally overwhelmed for most of this year and have been unable to get a proper update to the website completed since the 14th Anniversary Update on January 21st. Seeing the Shroud on public exhibition in May, lots of other traveling and lectures (in Italy, Germany, California, Vancouver, B.C. and Arizona), answering vast quantities of e-mails, performing my duties as Executive Director of STERA, Inc. and life in general, all conspired to take every minute of my time! In fact, I started working on this update on August 6th! So rather than writing a long introduction, let's get right to the new material. Enjoy!

This update contains so much new material that I am including an Update Table of Contents:

Posted September 7, 2010

New Shroud Papers and Articles Published

I am always pleased to announce the publication and availability of new scientific and historical papers and articles about the Shroud and there have been quite a few this year. In fact, I am including ten of them in this update. Several are new links to older papers that were not previously available online in their entirety. Most are links to recent papers on journal websites where in some cases, the entire paper is available at no cost. In other cases, only the abstract is available without a paid subscription. I have listed them below in the order they were published and have indicated "Abstract Only" or "Full Paper Available" (or at least they were when I published this update). Of course, all the links have also been added to the Scientific Papers & Articles and Website Library pages of the site.

Also included in today's update are two of the many articles submitted to us directly this year. These were reviewed and selected for publication by the STERA, Inc. Editorial Review Committee. The first of these, by Joseph Amalraj, has been added to the Religion & Philosophy page of the site and the second, by well known Shroud scholar Remi Van Haelst, to the Scientific Papers & Articles page:

Posted September 7, 2010
Updated September 13, 2010

British Society for the Turin Shroud (BSTS) June 2010 Newsletter Added

The British Society for the Turin Shroud page has been updated to include the text of the most recent issue (June 2010, No. 71) of the BSTS Newsletter. As regular website viewers already know, the newsletters always include relevant articles, book reviews, news from Italy and much more. Newsletter editor Mark Guscin (www.markguscin.com) also includes a full color, high quality photographic feature in each issue, (although I usually reprint a text only version on this website). See below for information on joining the BSTS so you can receive the full color, fully illustrated printed versions of the newsletter.

BSTS Issue No. 71 features an article about the recent BSTS Trip to Turin to see the Shroud. It includes an introduction by Mark Guscin followed by personal comments from six of the tour attendees. Next is a brief Interview with Jane Armstrong, director of the recent National Geographic Canada documentary production, "Remaking the Shroud." Also included is an article about The First Shroud Exhibition in Finland by Juha Hiltunen and two Book Reviews of recent Shroud books. The first is on Ian Wilson's latest offering, "The Shroud" and the second on the excellent "Challenge of the Shroud" by Mark Oxley. The issue also includes an excellent article about The first historical reference to the image on the Shroud - the Old Spanish Liturgy by Mark Guscin and much more.

For those of you who might be interested in a membership in the BSTS (which includes a subscription to two printed issues of the Newsletter per year) see the printable BSTS Membership Application for details. The newsletter is published semi-annually, usually in June and December, and the text is reprinted on this website in the Acrobat PDF format, but without the photographs or illustrations.

Posted September 7, 2010

Shroud of Turin Booklist Page Updated - Downloadable Version Now Available

I am pleased to announce that the Shroud of Turin Booklist page of the site has been updated with 59 new titles! Each new listing now includes the date it was added to the list. (Hint: To find the books added in this update, simply use the "ctrl F" Find feature of your browser and search on: 7 SEPT 2010 or just 2010). I am grateful, as always, to Emanuela Marinelli for her continued dedication and assistance in maintaining the booklist page of this site and helping me keep it up to date.

In 2005, thanks to website viewers Arif Khan (U.K.) and Justin Coe (New Zealand), we were able to provide a complete list of every book in the booklist that viewers could download as a Word document file or an Excel spreadsheet. The list was online for a full five years and was used by many Sindonologists worldwide, so we are all deeply grateful for this important contribution. However, the list has grown considerably over the past five years and sorely needed an update.

Now, in 2010, I am pleased to announce that my good friend Andy Weiss, webmaster for Pete Schumacher's excellent Shroud Exhibit and Museum (SEAM) website, has updated that list for us as of April 4, 2010. The new file, Shroud Book List04-04-2010.zip, contains the entire booklist in four different formats including an Excel 207KB xls file and an 83KB xlsx version, a 140KB txt file version and a 331KB pdf file. They are Zipped together into a single file to reduce their overall size and make them easier to download. However, you will need the appropriate WinZip or some similar software to unzip them. My sincere thanks to all of these researchers for their continued participation in making this the largest single bibliography of Shroud related books on the Internet.

Posted September 7, 2010

New Books and Book Reviews

More than fifty new non-fiction books were published about the Shroud of Turin this year, which is remarkable but understandable, since the Shroud was on public display from 10 April through 23 May 2010 and new books are always forthcoming when the Shroud is exhibited. The list of authors of the new books reads like a "Who's Who" in Shroud scholarship, including new offerings from such well-known and esteemed authors as Bruno Barberis, Avinoam Danin, Msgr. Giuseppe Ghiberti, John Iannone, Emanuela Marinelli, Robert Wilcox and Ian Wilson. Also included are new works by authors whose names may not be so familiar, like Gerard Lucotte, John Lupia, Mark Oxley and Wayne Wright. Although they have all been added as basic bibliographic references to the Shroud Booklist page of this site (as noted above), I have also included some of the books on the Shroud of Turin Books Online page of the site, where you can also find a synopsis of each book and a link (or address) to where the books can be obtained.

Also published this year were a number of fiction books with themes based on the Shroud, and I was contacted by several of those authors to include their works of fiction on this website. Unfortunately, I had already publicly established a policy in 1998 that I would not include such works of fiction on shroud.com. To be fair to the authors who contacted me this year, I decided to revisit the question by putting it before the STERA, Inc. Board of Directors and letting them decide whether we should change this policy or not. They all agreed with my initial decision and voted unanimously to keep it in force, so no works of fiction will be included on this website. You can read my original statement (posted 5 May 1998) at this link: An Editorial Decision.

Whenever possible, I try to include book reviews of some of the latest titles and this update is no exception. There are two reviews by Mark Guscin included in the latest issue of the BSTS Newsletter and a review written exclusively for this site by Diana Fulbright. Here are links to each of them:

Book Reviews:

The Challenge of the Shroud, Mark Oxley, Author House 2010 - by Mark Guscin
The Shroud, Ian Wilson, Bantam 2010 - by Mark Guscin
The Botany of the Shroud, Avinoam Danin, Danin Publishing 2010 - by Diana Fulbright

Posted September 7, 2010

Pope Benedict's Meditation on the Shroud

On 2 May 2010, Pope Benedict XVI visited Turin to see the Shroud and delivered a Meditation on the Holy Shroud at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist where the Shroud was being publicly displayed. Thanks to my dear friend Fr. Hector Guerra, L.C., we have been given permission to reprint on this website the official English translation that was distributed afterwards by the Holy See. I know many of you will find it of great interest.

Posted September 7, 2010

Recent Shroud Conferences

This year there was only one major Shroud conference held in Italy, to coincide with the public exhibition of the Shroud and that was the International Workshop on the Scientific Approach to the Acheiropoietos Images. ("Acheiropoietos" is the Greek term for "not made by human hands.") This conference was organized by Paolo Di Lazzaro and was held on May 4-6, 2010 at the ENEA Research Center in Frascati, Italy. The focus of the event was not just the Shroud, but other similar objects like the Sudarium of Oviedo, the Veil of Mannoppelo, Veronica's Veil and the Tilma of Guadalupe. Perhaps the most significant thing about the conference is the fact that it is one of the first Shroud conferences in many years to subject the papers to a peer review process. Those papers that are accepted for publication through the review process (which is currently in progress) will be printed into the bound Proceedings of the event which should be available by the end of the year. The above link is to the Workshop website home page, but you can also find abstracts of each paper presented at this link: Abstracts. Check their website from time to time for updates and availability of the Proceedings. Of course, the Shroud Conferences & Symposia page has also been updated to include this information.

The II International Congress on the Holy Shroud, held at the University of Lima (Peru) from August 31 to September 2, 2010, was organized by the Lima Catholic Studies Center (CEC-Lima) and “Accion Universitaria.” The speakers included scholars well know in the Shroud world: Dr. Bruno Barberis, associate professor of mathematical physics at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Turin and since 2002, Director of the International Center for Studies on the Shroud in Turin; Fr. Manuel Carreira S.J.. Doctor of Physics, philosopher and theologian and member of the Vatican Astronomical Observatory, professor at Carroll University, Cleveland (USA) and natural philosophy at the University of Comillas (Spain); and Professor Rafael de la Piedra, a theologian and scholar of the Holy Shroud. The above link is to the Spanish language website of the congress. As additional information becomes available I will include it in future updates.

Posted September 7, 2010

New Shroud Centers and Exhibits Around the World

I am pleased to announce that a number of new, permanent Shroud Centers and Exhibits were opened this year in the U.S.A. On Saturday, February 27, 2010, a permanent exhibit titled Who is the Man of the Shroud? opened at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Sacramento, California. Founded by the Legionaries of Christ, this is the third permanent Shroud exhibit the order has established. The first, the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, was opened in Jerusalem in 2006 (which I have reported on previously) and the second at the University of Rome. Plans are to continue to open similar exhibits in other countries around the world. Each exhibit includes a lifesize replica of the Shroud, two lifesize holographic images by Petrus Soons showing the three dimensional characteristics of the Shroud image, replicas of the instruments of the crucifixion and a beautiful, lifesize bronze sculpture of the man of the Shroud by Luigi Mattei.

The second permanent exhibit is the Bible Discoveries and Teaching Center founded by noted Shroud scholar, T.V. Oommen. The center officially opened to the public in March 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The museum displays prominent discoveries relating to Old Testament and New Testament events and places, such as Noah's Ark, Gomorrah, Mt. Sinai, the Ark of the Covenant and of course, the Shroud of Turin.. A collage on the Shroud features well known Shroud photographs and Shroud image findings. Both exhibits have been added to the Shroud Centers & Organizations page, where you can find contact and reservation information.

New exhibits in England and Finland were also displayed this year, although both are traveling displays and are designed to be moved and set up in different venues. I reported previously on the beautiful exhibit that Pamela Moon had created in 2008 and displayed in a number of churches in England over the past few years. This past April the exhibit was displayed in Wesminster Cathedral in London. The exhibit in Finland, organized and produced by Finnish Shroud author Juha Hiltunen (who wrote the first Shroud book in the Finnish language) also has the distinction of being the first Shroud exhibit ever displayed in Finland. I had hoped to include photographs and details of both exhibits, but have run completely out of time (it is 1:15 am on September 7th as I write this) so will post them in a future update.

Posted September 7, 2010

New Shroud Links

It had been quite some time since I last did a thorough review of the links on our Links To More Information page. In doing so for this update, I discovered many broken or expired links, which I have since removed. If any of these were to your website, please let me know the updated link information and I will restore it to the page in the next update. I also tested every link on the page and they were all active at the time of the test.

Posted September 7, 2010

Shroud Speakers Directory Page Updated

I am pleased to announce that a new speaker has been added to the Shroud Speakers Directory page of the website. Our latest addition is Wayne Wright, who lives in the Oklahoma City area of the U.S. Wayne graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas in 1965 with a B.A. in religion. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, with a Master of Divinity degree in 1969. Wayne has been a guest speaker at various churches and campuses, speaking on the topics of evangelism, discipleship and moral purity. For the last 10 years he has done extensive research and study on the Shroud of Turin. In 2002 Wayne wrote his 30 page book, The Shroud Of Turin, Scientific Evidence That Jesus Christ Raised From The Dead (which he distributes without charge), and which summarizes the most important information concerning the Shroud of Turin. Wayne is convinced that the Shroud of Turin presents the greatest opportunity for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to our generation.

The Shroud Speakers Directory was created in response to the many e-mail requests I regularly receive from groups and organizations looking for qualified individuals to speak on the Shroud of Turin. By consulting this directory, you will find listings for Shroud lecturers that include a short biography of each, a description of the topics they present, their geographic location, how to contact them directly and other pertinent information that will help you find the right speaker for your group.

Posted September 7, 2010

A Special Tribute

John and Ann Jackson

I was speaking with John Jackson on the phone this past February, a few days after the passing of his mother, Ann Jackson, to express my condolences for his loss. During our typically long conversation (we are rarely on the phone for anything less than an hour), he reminisced about how his mother had influenced his life by introducing him to the Shroud when he was only 13 years old. I had never met his mother, nor had most of us in the Shroud world, but as he told me her story I realized that indirectly, Ann Jackson had influenced a great many people in Sindonology. It was her influence that ultimately led him to create STURP and in so doing, brought many other people into the study of the Shroud, including me. So although her contribution was far more subtle and indirect than most Shroud scholars that I memorialize on this website, I felt remembering her here and letting people know of her influence was very important and I asked John to write a special tribute to his mother that I could publish on this site.

You can read John's A Tribute to Ann Jackson - my Mother at this link.

Posted September 7, 2010

"The Real Face of Jesus?" Documentary Gets High Ratings and becomes an Emmy Contender

In addition to the many new books that were published this year, a number of new television documentaries about the Shroud were presented around Easter time. As usual, these ranged from the very good to the very bad. I am including here a brief synopsis of three of these, in the order in which they aired:

The first program was titled Touched by Jesus? and it premiered in the U.S. on the NatGeo Channel on March 29, 2010. Using interviews reedited from previous programs, it was mainly about the Shroud and rehashed all the now-familiar skeptical theories including those of Walter McCrone. Of course, there were also the familiar faces of Joe Nickell and Steven Schafersman, well known Shroud skeptics, so you might understand why I thought the program was rather weak. I am including below a review of this program by website viewer Remi Dubuque, who reviewed two of the three new shows and kindly shares with us his own personal perspectives.

Every once in a long while a particularly good documentary is produced about the Shroud of Turin. Such is the case with The Real Face of Jesus? which was produced by Ray Downing and premiered in the U.S. on the History Channel on March 30, 2010. It is the first television documentary on the Shroud that is a full two hours in length, giving the producers time to deal with the subject matter in much more depth and detail than we normally see. On a personal note, I thought it was one of the few documentaries ever made about the Shroud that deals with both the science and faith issues of the relic in a fair and equal manner. In fact, the program garnered very high ratings and was so well received it became an Emmy contender in the category of Nonfiction Specials. But don't take my word for it, because I am undoubtedly biased. Instead, you can read over one hundred viewer's comments about the program at this link: (Sorry. Link no longer available). I have also added this program to the Videos and DVD's section of the Website Store page where it can be ordered directly from the History Channel. You can also read Remi Dubuque's review of the above two programs at this link: Dubuque Reviews. (Editor's Note: The program will air again on the History Channel International on September 15, 2010. Check your local listings for details).

The third program was titled Remaking the Shroud and was produced by National Geographic Canada. It premiered in the U.S. on the NatGeo Channel on April 18, 2010 (after the Shroud had gone on public display). This was a completely skeptical, anti-authenticity program that featured the work of Luigi Garlacschelli (see Thibault Heimburger's November 3, 2009 article titled Comments About the Recent Experiment of Professor Luigi Garlaschelli which discusses his work) and Nathan Wilson (you might recognize his name as the man who brought us the highly implausible "shadow shroud" theory about 10 years ago). The program spent most of its time dwelling on their work and watching them gleefully imply (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) that they had completely solved the mysteries of the Shroud. The program did include noted Shroud scholars Mechthild Flury-Lemberg and Mark Guscin who presented credible information, but sadly, in spite of their noble efforts, there was nothing they could do to improve a very skeptical program which spent most of its screen time detailing how Garlaschelli and Wilson each "reproduced" the Shroud. It is interesting to note that the program never resolved which of their two completely different imaging theories was correct! (It can't be both of them). Truthfully, it was almost painful to watch. I am also including a Review of the program by website viewer Elaine Cowan at this link: Cowan Review.

Posted September 7, 2010
Updated September 9, 2010

Official Turin 2010 Shroud DVD Now Available Online

I am pleased to announce that Shroud - Passio Christi - Passio Hominis, the official DVD commissioned by the Turin Center for exclusive distribution during this year's public exhibition of the Shroud, is now available online. (Sorry. Link no longer available). The DVD program, produced by David Rolfe, who brought us the BAFTA award winning Silent Witness program in 1978 (the first Shroud documentary), offers viewers a choice of six different languages and is available directly from his website at the above link. It has also been added to the Videos & DVDs section of the Website Store page.

In David's brief summation of the program he writes:

"...this film paints the broad picture of the Shroud's history and the case for its authenticity. Using some unique 3D reconstructions it is not afraid to point out the religious significance for our 3D age. The narration builds to a poetic conclusion."

When you visit David's website, click on the DVD Available link embedded in the top paragraph of the page for ordering information.

Posted September 7, 2010

News From STERA, Inc.

I am very happy to report that STERA, Inc. has been operating with great success since it formally began on January 1, 2010. This year, in association with Canterbury Tours, a professional pilgrimage tour company, and many of you, our website viewers who took those special tours, we successfuly completed our first official fundraising effort. Our sincere thanks to those of you who participated (and you know who you are)! I met several hundred of you there, and it was a truly wonderful opportunity to get to know some of our website viewers better.

However, fundraising is an ongoing process for every non-profit organization, and we are no exception (especially in such troubled financial times). Now that the Shroud is no longer in the news, we still need your participation and support to continue the work we have begun. And of course, we still need your fully tax deductible contributions. As many of you already know, you can safely contribute online using our Secure Contribution Form. And, in taking a lesson from the Public Broadcasting System here in the U.S., and as an encouragement for your support, we are now offering a range of gifts for those of you who make contributions to STERA, Inc. Much like PBS, these are offered on a sliding scale, based on the size of your contribution:

Contribution - - - - - - Free Gift
$100.00 - $299.00 - Set of 2 Shroud Lithographs
$300.00 - $599.00 - Shroud Lithographic Poster
$600.00 - $999.00 - Both Lithographs and Poster
$1000.00 (or more) - All the above plus Miniature Shroud Replica on Cotton

Probably the most exciting news however, is the next project we have planned, which we are simply calling our Archiving Project. As most of you know, the operation of this website and keeping it free of any advertising is not the only work supported by STERA, Inc. One of our major goals is to begin the archiving of the important collections that have been donated to STERA, Inc., including the materials of STURP researchers Raymond Rogers, Robert Dinegar and William Mottern. In addition, we have the extensive collection of Fr. Albert "Kim" Dreisbach, Jr., a world renowned Sindonologist and Shroud scholar until his untimely death on April 29, 2006. Fr. Dreisbach's collection alone includes nearly one hundred and fifty boxes of books, correspondence, papers, articles and other Shroud related materials. And of course, my own collection of photographs and other Shroud materials is also rather extensive.

Our goal is to digitally scan and archive all of the important materials in these collections and ultimately make them available via a special gateway page and searchable database we will create on shroud.com. Our hope is that in the future, these important scientific and historic materials will be readily accessible to Shroud scholars around the world. To support that effort, we are in the preliminary stages of developing a grant request that will be submitted to the appropriate funding entities so the project can move forward simultaneously with maintaining the website, etc. We anticipate that the Archiving Project alone will be a 3 to 5 year effort. I feel very fortunate to have working with STERA, Inc. a wonderful Board of Directors that includes Shroud scholars, historians, academics and scientists. With their help and your support, I believe we will realize our goals and then some!

Posted September 7, 2010

The Next Update

I worked on this update for more than a full month and believe I have now caught up on most of the backlog of materials that accumulated since the last major update in January 2010. However, as is often the case, there are a few items that still did not make it online. My apologies if I was unable to include your information in this update. I plan to do another small update before the end of the year (probably at the end of November), and will include any such omissions at that time. Of course, I will update the site promptly should any major news break in the Shroud world. Otherwise, the next major update will go online January 21, 2011, which also will mark the 15th Anniversary of Shroud.com. Enjoy the new materials, have a great autumn and I'll see you soon!

Posted September 7, 2010

The 2010 Turin Exposition - A Personal Report

The six week public exposition of the Shroud of Turin, the first such exhibition in ten years, ended on May 23, 2010 after more than 2 million visitors came to see the relic since it first went on public display on April 10, 2010. As I mentioned in the last update, I too attended the exposition, from May 10th through May 21st. I had originally planned to write and publish an article about my trip as soon as I returned home, but there were 1800 e-mails waiting for me, along with dozens of phone messages, a huge pile of postal mail and a weekend of lecturing scheduled in Santa Clara, California that had to be taken care of first. It has taken me more than a month to catch up, and although I started writing the article weeks ago, it was only on July 4th (and a holiday weekend here in the U.S.) that I was finally able to finish it. I have now posted the article, titled Turin 2010 - A Personal Report by Barrie Schwortz to the website where you can read or download it in pdf format.

I must also mention that this is a personal report in which I expressed my personal opinions in a few potentially sensitive areas. These are solely presented in the interest of honest and fair reporting that I believe the readers of this website have come to expect and are not meant as a personal criticism of anyone. I just feel obligated to honestly report what I observed.

Barrie Schwortz
Posted July 6, 2010

The Next Website Update

The next website update will be a large one, as I have accumulated a huge amount of new materials over the last six months. Unfortunately, I have been far too busy with other Shroud matters to get the work done and online. As I mentioned in my last update, I plan to finish the next update by the end of the summer, on or about September 1, 2010. It will include a host of new Shroud books, a report on a number of new Shroud exhibits around the world, reviews of recent Shroud documentaries, the June 2010 issue of the British Society for the Turin Shroud (BSTS) Newsletter and much more. Of course, if you are a subscriber to the Website Mailing List, you will receive an e-mail notifying you of the update when it goes online. Thank you again for your continued support. See you later this summer!

Posted July 6, 2010

The Shroud On Public Display

The Shroud of Turin went on public display for the first time in ten years on April 10, 2010, in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the city of Turin, Italy. Visitors from around the world have been flocking to see the Shroud since the opening day of the exhibition. On May 5th, Turin authorities stated that more than 2 million pilgrims are now expected over the course of the exhibition, which closes on May 23, 2010. This figure surpasses earlier estimates by several hundred thousand visitors. This exhibition also marks the first opportunity for the public to view the Shroud since its controversial restoration in 2002.

On Sunday, May 2, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI visited the Turin Cathedral and venerated the relic, after which he delivered a homily titled "If We Are United to Christ, We Can Truly Love." He then went on to deliver some additional comments on the Shroud. An English translation of those important comments was published by Zenit.org in an article titled, "Pope's Remarks After Venerating Shroud of Turin - In the Hour of Extreme Solitude We Will Never Be Alone." I requested formal permission to reprint the copyrighted article but have not yet received it. I will include it as soon as I receive permission to do so.

I had originally intended for this update to be a large one, as I have a huge amount of important materials to include. However, I have been totally overwhelmed over the past two months and I simply ran out of time. What with traveling and lecturing in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and California, a number of newly released Shroud books and television documentaries, the opening of the public exhibition in Turin and literally thousands of e-mails, there just weren't enough hours left to do a major update to the site. In April alone the website received more than 2.3 million hits that generated over 52 GB of bandwidth!

I leave for Turin on May 9th (I hope to meet some of you there) and have to postpone the next website update until later this summer. Of course, it will be a large one and include a report on all the new non-fiction Shroud books published recently, an article featuring a number of new Shroud centers and exhibits that are now on display around the world, reviews and viewer's comments on the new Shroud documentaries that aired recently, a number of new papers and articles, comments on the public exhibition of the Shroud and much more.

I still hope to write and post an article about the exhibition while I am in Turin (if time permits), so do check the site over the next few weeks to see if anything new has showed up. Of course, if you are a subscriber to the Website Mailing List, you will receive an e-mail notifying you of the update when it goes online. Thank you again for your continued support. See you this summer!

Barrie Schwortz
Posted May 7, 2010

The Shroud On Television

There are several new television documentaries about the Shroud of Turin that will be airing here in the U.S. in the next few days and I wanted to provide you with the information as soon as possible, so I created this very short special update to give you the details. Although the programs may include many well known Shroud researchers, remember that the producers control the content of the programs and they alone decide what shows up on the screen. I am always hopeful for a well produced, honest program about the Shroud but will reserve my opinions until I have seen each show for myself. We will all find out together in a few days. In fact, I am sure that both programs will generate their own discussions once they have aired.

"Touched by Jesus" will air on the National Geographic Channel on Monday, March 29th. I have no details about this program but here is the overview from their website: "Faith, by definition, means belief without proof. But what if science could shed light on some of Christianity's greatest mysteries? Using laboratory blood tests, fiber analysis and carbon dating, we'll put three controversial claims about Jesus to the test. Can true believers experience his suffering through spontaneous stigmata? Was the Shroud of Turin the actual cloth in which Jesus was buried? Did Jesus marry and have children?" Here is a link to more information: (Sorry. Link no longer available). I do not have the airtime for this program, so check your local listings for times in your area.

"The Real Face of Jesus?" will air on the History Channel on Tuesday, March 30th, from 9:00 to 11:00 pm, Eastern time. It airs again on Saturday, April 3rd, from 8:00 to 10:00 pm, Eastern time. This may well be the first two hour television documentary ever made about the Shroud of Turin, so the producers have more screen time to develop their story and provide us with more in-depth information. As a participant myself, I had the opportunity to meet and work with the people who made the program and felt they were sincere and professional. Again, check your local listings for times in your area. There is a lot more information about this show available online so I am providing a list links:

Posted March 28, 2010

The Next Update

I am planning one more large website update before leaving for Turin myself on May 8, 2010. I hope to have the next update online by the end of April or shortly thereafter and will notify our Subscribers by e-mail as soon as it goes online. You too can become a free subscriber to the Shroud of Turin Website - STERA, Inc. Mailing List and receive an e-mail notice whenever the website is updated. To join, go to the Send Us E-mail page, enter your e-mail address in the box provided and hit "Go!" Follow the instructions and you will be added to the list in less than a minute. Subscribers also receive exclusive opportunities not available to the general public, including access to papers and articles in advance of their publication, discounts on Shroud books and other materials and much more.

Posted March 28, 2010

Shroud.com Celebrates 14th Anniversary!

Welcome to the 14th Anniversary update of the Shroud of Turin Website! This site first went online on January 21, 1996. This year is a particularly important one because the Shroud of Turin will be exhibited to the public for the first time in ten years from 10 April 2010 through 23 May 2010. But it is an important one for this website as well. This is the first year that the website is owned and published by the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. (STERA, Inc.), our new non-profit organization. Over the coming months, you will see some changes and improvements to the website that were simply impossible for me to do by myself, but become far more feasible for STERA, Inc. to accomplish.

I always write this part of the anniversary update last, because I don't know until the very end of the process exactly what materials will be included. Now that I've reached this point, I can tell you that you will find a number of items in this update about STERA, Inc. It is important for us to inform you of what is planned if we expect you to help support this website financially. Like any other non-profit, we will only be as successful as the generosity of our supporters.

As always, this anniversary update is a large one. In fact, I edited, modified, updated or created over 50 pages for this update! A few highlights include the creation of a Secure Contribution Form, where viewers can safely make online tax deductible contributions to STERA, Inc., a new paper about the Veil of Veronica by John Iannone, the availability of the printed Proceedings of the Ohio International Conference, the addition of the latest issue of the BSTS Newsletter, news of a Special Art Exhibit in Turin to coincide with the upcoming Shroud exposition and much, much more. In fact, there are so many new additions that I have created a Table of Contents so you can jump directly to the item below that you wish to read.

I am intentionally keeping my comments brief because there is already so much new material for you to digest. However, I could not end without thanking all of the scientists, historians, researchers and other Shroud scholars whose contributions have made this website the valuable resource it has become. Without their willingness to allow their work to be published here, this website would have very little value indeed. I also want to thank you, the viewer, for coming back to the site on a regular basis and providing me the excellent feedback that you do. I truly appreciate your loyalty and am deeply grateful for your continued participation and support. Thank you all!

Barrie M. Schwortz
Executive Director
STERA, Inc.

14th Anniversary Update Table of Contents:

Posted January 21, 2010

Tours To Turin Will Benefit STERA, Inc.

As I did for the previous Shroud exhibitions in 1998 and 2000, I will again be working personally with Canterbury Tours, Inc., an experienced pilgrimage tour company that has put together a variety of tours that include a visit to Turin during the 2010 Exhibition. I will meet with each tour group upon their arrival at the hotel in Turin, give each group a private Shroud presentation, have dinner and "hang out" with them and visit the Shroud with them the next day. Time permitting, we might also visit the excellent Sindone Museo (Shroud Museum) where many historical Shroud related artifacts are displayed. If you book any of the tours listed on the Canterbury Tours website, they will make all the necessary reservations to see the Shroud for you. You will NOT need to make the reservations yourself.

I will be in Turin from 10 May 2010 through 20 May 2010, so if you wish to be part of a tour that I personally meet with in Turin, you can book one within those dates. Of course, other dates are available if these don't fit into your schedule. You can find details about the specific tours and pricing/reservation information online at the Canterbury Tours Website. (Sorry. Link no longer available). Please contact the company directly with any specific questions you might have or to book your reservations. Please book early as demand is high and space is limited.

The really exciting news is that $200.00 of each full tour purchased will be donated directly to STERA, Inc., and each purchaser will receive a tax deductible receipt for a charitable contribution in that amount directly from STERA, Inc. If you choose one of the short tours being offered by Canterbury, a lesser amount (to be determined) will still be donated to STERA, Inc. and you will receive a receipt for that amount. This becomes the first formal fund raising effort by STERA, Inc. and what better event than an opportunity to actually see the Shroud of Turin!

I have also updated the special Tours To Turin page and added several more organizations offering tours that include a visit to the 2010 Shroud Exhibition. This provides you with alternatives in case the Canterbury Tours schedule doesn't meet your needs. If you are a professional travel organization planning to make tours available during the 2010 exhibition and are interested in being included on this page, contact this website via the Send Us E-mail page for more information.

Posted January 21, 2010

Make An Online Tax Deductible Contribution to STERA, Inc.

We are pleased to announce that you can now make tax deductible contributions directly to STERA, Inc. using your credit or debit card and our new online Secure Contribution Form. You can help support this website and get a deduction for a charitable contribution on your Federal and State Income taxes. If you prefer to mail your contribution, simply click on the following link for details: Mail a Tax Deductible Contribution to STERA, Inc.

As a token of our appreciation and gratitude for your support, any donor who makes a contribution of US$100.00 or more will automatically receive a Free Gift of two 8½" x 11" Shroud lithographs (one of the face and the other of the side-by-side dorsal and ventral images) by return mail. Supplies are limited so act promptly. Offer is valid only until our supplies are exhausted.

Posted January 21, 2010

New Paper On Veronica's Veil Added

This website has always been dedicated to providing information specifically about the Shroud of Turin. Over the years, I have limited the content to subject matter that was at least indirectly related to the Shroud. That allowed me to include information about the Sudarium of Oviedo, purported to be the cloth or napkin that the covered Jesus' face after his death and that bears stains congruent with some of those found on the Shroud. I have also published several excellent articles about the Veil of Manoppello, another controversial image purported to be either a painting or "not made by human hands" (and believed by some to actually be the Veil of Veronica). A third cloth reported to bear an image of Jesus (and sometimes confused with both the Shroud and the Manoppello) is the so-called Veil of Veronica, kept in St. Peter's Bascilica in Rome and occasionally displayed to the public from a balcony in the cathedral.

Today's update includes the addition of a new paper to the Scientific Papers & Articles page by noted Shroud scholar and author, John Iannone, a name familiar to Shroud researchers as the author of the 1998 book The Mystery of the Shroud of Turin: New Scientific Evidence. This latest article is titled, "The Veil of Veronica: Fact or Fiction?" and first explores the legend of the Veil from an historical and traditional basis. John then examines the opposing claims that the actual veil is in Rome or in Manoppello and reaches some interesting conclusions. You will also find links to this article and others about the Sudarium and the Manoppello on the Website Library page of the site.

Posted January 21, 2010

Ray Rogers Book Now Available As Download

"A Chemist's Perspective On The Shroud Of Turin"

I am pleased to announce that "A Chemist's Perspective On The Shroud Of Turin." by Raymond N. Rogers, available in print since August 2008, is now available for immediate download in PDF format from Lulu.com. We hope this brings Ray's work to an even broader audience. The download version of the full color, large format 149 page book is available for just US$20.00. Click on the above link or photo to read a more detailed description of the book or place an order. Please note that if you wish to order the download version on the Lulu.com website, scroll down to the section labeled "More From Raymond N. Rogers."

Posted January 21, 2010

2008 Columbus International Conference Proceedings Now Available

Includes 35 WMV Video files on 2 DVD's

On August 14-17, 2008, the Columbus International Conference, titled "The Shroud of Turin - Perspectives on a Multifaceted Enigma," was held at the Blackwell Hotel at Ohio State University. Organized by Joe Marino and Sue Benford and sponsored by the Shroud Science Internet Group, the conference was dedicated to the late Raymond Rogers, STURP chemist, and his important contributions to Shroud research, and in part to commemorate the 30th anniversary of STURP's 1978 scientific examination of the Shroud. The conference attracted more than 85 attendees from Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Panama, Spain and the United States and included around 40 presentations and open forum discussions. You can read more about the conference itself on the 2008 Ohio Conference page of this site.

One of the main presenters at the conference and a prominent member of the Shroud Science Internet Group, Prof. Giulio Fanti took up the difficult task of editing and compiling a printed Proceedings of the event. And the result is truly spectacular. The 8 1/8" x 11½" (20.7 cm x 29.2 cm) paperback book contains 478 pages and includes all the papers presented at the conference, hundreds of photographs, program notes and additional information and weighs over 2 pounds (1 kilogram)! As an added bonus, Giulio compiled the videos produced by Russell Breault during the conference (originally posted online at Russ' www.shrouduniversity.com website) and included them on TWO DVD-ROMs that are provided as a bonus with the printed proceedings.

Giulio has graciously donated a number of the books to STERA, Inc. (and shipped them to us here in the U.S. at his own expense) so that we could make them available for sale on this website. I am pleased to announce you will now find them listed on the Website Store page of this site. (SOLD OUT). STERA extends its gratitude to Giulio Fanti for his kindness and generosity.

Posted January 21, 2010

British Society for the Turin Shroud (BSTS) December 2009 Newsletter Added

The British Society for the Turin Shroud page has been updated to include the text of the most recent issue (December 2009, No. 70) of the BSTS Newsletter. As regular website viewers already know, the newsletters always include relevant articles, book reviews, news from Italy and much more. Newsletter editor Mark Guscin (www.markguscin.com) also includes a full color, high quality photographic feature in each issue, (although I usually reprint a text only version on this website). See below for information on joining the BSTS so you can receive the full color, fully illustrated printed versions of the newsletter.

BSTS Issue No. 70 includes a number of interesting new articles. First is an article titled, "Information About the Upcoming Exhibition," that was taken from the official Shroud website. It answers questions about the exhibition that many people have been asking. That is further amplified by an excellent article by Mark Guscin titled, "What Else To Do In Turin" that describes some of the most important and well known points of interest in the Turin area. That is followed by an article titled "How the Shroud Was Made, According to Luigi Garlaschelli," (with an introduction by Mark Guscin). Next is an article featuring a new sculpture based on the Shroud by Dutch artist Jan Marinus Reijnierse, another excellent article from Ian Wilson's archives titled, "Templecombe Panel Painting: late 13th century?," (that includes full color illustrations) along with News from Italy, Letters to the Editor and much more.

For those of you who might be interested in a membership in the BSTS (which includes a subscription to two printed issues of the Newsletter per year) see the printable BSTS Membership Application for details. The newsletter is published semi-annually, usually in June and December, and the text is reprinted on this website in the Acrobat PDF format, but without the photographs or illustrations.

Posted January 21, 2010

Editorial Review Policy

Since this website first went online, I have been the primary decision maker in determining which papers were published on the site and which were not. Of course, in most cases I was able to call upon acknowledged experts in the appropriate disciplines to review the more technical papers for scientific or historical accuracy and credibility. Although not a formal peer review process, it did help insure that the website published only credible materials. In the end however, these important decisions were mine.

Now that STERA, Inc. has taken over the website and I have the benefit of a Board of Directors and other participants to work with, I am establishing an Editorial Review Committee to help make these decisions. This committee will be comprised of scientists, historians, Biblical experts, linguists, etc., and will review all papers submitted for publication. Although this will not be a formal peer review process either, it will take this important responsibility to a higher level. Over the past few months I have received a number of interesting papers that I was holding for consideration under this new system, but there was just not enough time to accomplish it before this update went online. If you submitted a paper in the past few months, I ask for your patience just a little longer. You will be hearing from us shortly.

If you wish to submit a paper for publication on either the Scientific Papers & Articles page or the Religion & Philosophy page, you can read the newly updated Submission Requirements for more information and detailed instructions.

Posted January 21, 2010

Special Art Exhibit In Turin

I recently received an e-mail from my dear friends Bill and Kate Kelly, long time supporters of this website, informing me of a special Shroud related art exhibit that will be on display in Turin during the Shroud exposition. I am grateful to the Kellys for contributing this information. Here is what they sent me:

Dear Barrie,

I’ve attached a notice from a good friend of ours, Prof. Msgr. Timothy Verdon, canon of the cathedral of Florence. He is organizing a Shroud related exhibit titled, "Jesus, His Body and Face in Art" at the Venaria Reale (Royal Hunting Palace) which, I understand, is 10km from the center of Torino. I asked him if it would be alright to share this information with you and he said “Of course.”

The exhibit sounds very interesting to me and I thought that you might wish to advise your viewers of its availability. They are working on the English translation of the exhibit catalogue mentioned in the attachment. (Read the attachment here: Jesus, His Body and Face in Art).

I have known Msgr. Verdon, an American, since the 1970's: he has a PhD. in art history from Yale, was running the Stanford program in Florence and was recruited by Card. Piovanelli, Abp Emeritus of Florence, to be a priest of the Archdiocese. He also has a website, www.timothyverdon.com. He has excellent scholarly credentials and is very well known and regarded.

Take care of yourself. I look forward to seeing you in Torino.

Love from us both,

Bill and Kate Kelly

Posted January 21, 2010

New Shroud Book Published In Finland

I am pleased to announce that the first Shroud book ever written by a Finnish scholar, Valokuva Jeesuksesta? Torinon käärinliina tieteen, historian ja Uuden testamentin valossa (A Photograph of Jesus: The Turin Shroud in the Light of Science, History and the New Testament) by Professor Juha Hiltunen, was published in 2009. Written in the Finnish language, the author was kind enough to provide us with an English translation of the information published on the rear cover of the book.

The Turin Shroud is one of the best known and controversial relics in existence, as in it you may see an imprint of a crucified man. Tradition and a number of experts believe that this textile truly is the Shroud of Jesus and its' mystical portrait represents him. Many scholars, however, have made efforts to prove these claims of authenticity as false and (claim) the Shroud is therefore a Medieval hoax. What is the truth of this Shroud, which has been preserved in the St. John the Baptist's Cathedral in Turin? What may history tell about its phases? What are the most current results of its scientific investigation?

Juha Hiltunen has researched thoroughly both the historical phases and what are the most current modern scientific results available of the Shroud. Valokuva Jeesuksesta? is the very first Finnish comprehensive and current presentation for general audiences of this mystery so prone to debate

Juha Hiltunen is an adjunct professor at the University of Oulu. He is a cultural historian and an anthropologist, who's expertise is in the field of ethno- and mythical history besides ideological propaganda and historical forgeries.

Of course, the book has also been added as a full bibliographic reference on the Shroud of Turin Booklist page, along with a link to the publisher, http://www.kirjapaja.fi.

Posted January 21, 2010

Shroud of Turin Booklist Page Updated

The Shroud of Turin Booklist page has been updated with a number of new books, including those mentioned elsewhere in this update. Each new listing now includes the date it was added to the list. (Hint: To find the books added in this update, simply use the "ctrl F" Find feature of your browser and search on: 21 JAN 10). I am grateful, as always, to Emanuela Marinelli for her continued dedication and assistance in maintaining the booklist page of this site and helping me keep it up to date. Grazie!

Posted January 21, 2010

Interesting New Shroud Links Added

Several interesting new links have been added to the Links To More Information page of this site. Here is a list of the new links with a brief description of each. You will find a more detailed description of each on the Links page.

Posted January 21, 2010

2010 Shroud Exhibition Reservation System Available Online

On December 1, 2009, the Archdiocese of Turin website put their new reservation system online. Reservations are required to view the Shroud during the public exhibition (10 April 2010 through 23 May 2010), although admission is free. For registration and other information, visit the Archdiocese website's English Language FAQ Page (the website and reservation system allow you to select and view in several different languages). To make your reservation, just click on the appropriate link near the top left corner of the FAQ page and follow the instructions provided. (Sorry. Link no longer available).

Posted January 21, 2010
Originally Posted December 9, 2009

Shroud of Turin Website - STERA, Inc. Mailing List

Just a reminder that you can become a free subscriber to the Shroud of Turin Website - STERA, Inc. Mailing List and receive an e-mail notice whenever the website is updated. In addition, subscribers receive exclusive opportunities not available to the general public. These include access to papers and articles in advance of their publication, discounts on Shroud books and other materials and much more. To join, go to the Send Us E-mail page, enter your e-mail address in the box provided and hit "Go!" Follow the instructions and you will be added to the list in less than a minute.

Posted January 21, 2010

The Next Update

I plan to do at least one more update before leaving for Turin in May. However, I have a full travel schedule over the next few months, including lectures at Thomas Aquinus College in Santa Paula, California and the Shroud Conference sponsored by the Vancouver Shroud Association in Richmond, B.C., Canada, so I am not sure when it will go online. This is going to be a busy and an important year for the Shroud of Turin so check back regularly for updates.

Posted January 21, 2010

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