2021 Website News


These are the items that were included on the "Late Breaking Website News" page in 2021. 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 2021.

You can also view every previous year's Website News pages at the links below:

Archived Website News pages: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996

Winter Update! November 22, 2021

 Russ Breault speaks at October 9th Museum of the Bible event - Photo ©2021 Joe Marino

It has only been two months since our last update, so today's update is considerably smaller than our earlier ones this year. However, there was still a lot of important new material published over the last few months and we are including it all here. This is also our last update of the year, so we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and healthy New Year! Here is a brief overview of what is included today:

This update includes details of the recent Museum of the Bible Shroud event held in Washington, D.C. (with the participation of three of STERA, Inc.'s Board Members), unveils another unique and historical STURP document, includes information on an upcoming special holiday Shroud exhibition in Turin, reports on a recent Shroud conference that was held in France, includes a memorial for the recent passing of Shroud scholar Peter Soons and launches STERA, Inc.'s annual fundraising campaign. Of course, there are also links to many new papers, books, websites, internet articles, videos, audios, podcasts and much more. We hope you find this update useful and wish you all a joyous holiday season. - Barrie Schwortz - Editor

Here is the Update Table of Contents:

Museum of the Bible Shroud Event a Great Success!

Shroud scholars participate in a panel discussion - (L to R) Dr. Jeff Kloha, Chief Curatorial Officer, Museum of the Bible; Very Reverend Peter Mangum, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans and Director for the Museum of the Holy Shroud, Shreveport, LA; Dr. Cheryl White, Professor of History at Louisiana State University at Shreveport and Curator for the Museum of the Holy Shroud, Shreveport, LA; Russ Breault, President and Founder of the Shroud of Turin Education Project, Inc. and Joe Marino, world renowned Shroud scholar. (Click photo for larger view) - Photo ©2021 Myra K. Adams

As we reported in our last update, the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., hosted a special Shroud speakers event that took place on October 9, 2021. Titled, Shroud of Mystery: The World's Most Analyzed Artifact, it featured the participation of four, world renowned Shroud scholars: Dr. Cheryl White, Russ Breault, Joe Marino and Fr. Peter Mangum. We are also very proud to report that three of the speakers are members of STERA, Inc.'s Board of Directors, so we were well represented. A YouTube video of the entire event is now available at this link: Shroud of Mystery YouTube Video and also includes some brief comments by His Excellency Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America and the Ambassador to the U.S. for the Pope and the Vatican State. The event was a prelude to the opening of the Museum's groundbreaking Shroud Exhibit, Mystery and Faith: The Shroud of Turin that will debut on February 26, 2022 and run through July 31, 2022. Brian Hyland, the Museum's Associate Curator of Medieval Manuscripts, gave a great preview and description of the exhibit (which starts at about 1:36:00 in the above video). A special event is currently being planned for the grand opening of the exhibit and we will report on that in our January update. Also, our special thanks to Myra Adams and her Sign From God organization for sponsoring the event. You can visit the Sign From God website for more information about their organization.

As an added bonus, I asked each of our Board Members that participated in the event to write a brief article about it from their own perspectives and compiled their articles into a single PDF document that we are sharing with you here. It is titled, STERA, Inc. and the Museum of the Bible and also includes several additional photographs. My sincere thanks to our Board of Directors for their excellent participation in this important event and their kind contributions of text and photos!

As an extra added bonus, here is a link to an EWTN News Nightly interview with Dr. Cheryl White about the Shroud of Turin exhibit planned for the Museum of the Bible in 2022. This link is to the entire program. Interview video starts at 19:09 and ends at 24:07.

Posted November 22, 2021

Another Unique and Historical STURP Document Now Available

Transcript of Diane Soran's Remarks at Meeting of Shroud of Turin Research Project Members
Española, New Mexico - April 28. 1979

There are a lot of reasons why I am excited about making this document available. First and foremost, it represents some technical remarks by Diane Soran, STURP team member from Los Alamos National Laboratory with expertise in chemistry and archaelogy. Sadly, Diane was one of the first team members to pass away and never really had the opportunity to publish any of her own Shroud research. I know she worked closely with Ray Rogers and others at the lab on Shroud related chemistry matters, but little material evidence of her work exists. This recently discovered document gives us some insights into her dedication and professionalism and how seriously she took this research. Our thanks to Joe Marino for finding this in his archives and sharing it with us.

For those not familiar with STURP's early history, the team worked in smaller, regional groups around the country. The California group included the conservation expert from the Los Angeles County Museum and the imaging and photographic teams from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Brooks Institute of Photography. Another group was located in Colorado and included the team's founders from the Air Force Academy. A group in Connecticut included our medical analysts and administrative offices. Finally, the New Mexico group included team members from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia Laboratories and the Air Force Weapons Laboratory.

This new document, titled Transcript of Diane Soran's Remarks at Meeting of Shroud of Turin Research Project Members - Española, New Mexico - April 28, 1979, is a professionally produced transcript of an audio recording made at one of the New Mexico regional group meetings held on April 28, 1979. (It was probably transcribed by someone at the lab). The Española location makes me believe the meeting was probably held at Ron London's small ranch and it took place about a month after STURP held their 'First Data Analysis Workshop' on the Shroud, in Santa Barbara, California (March 24-25, 1979), when the entire team was present. So although it is somewhat technical, it provides us with a closer look at one of the least known but truly important STURP scientific team members (and provides further insights into the team itself). Other researchers at the meeting included Ray Rogers, Ron London, Eric Jumper, John Jackson, Bob Dinegar, Joe Accetta and Don Janney. I believe this is a truly important historical document and am very pleased to share it with you.

Posted November 22, 2021

Taizé Pilgrims to See the Shroud

Taizé Pilgrims to See the Shroud
(Link to English article)

As we reported in our January 21, 2020 update, a special viewing of the Shroud was announced for December 2020 that was to be reserved exclusively for the members of the Taizé Community. This was planned to coincide with their annual meeting of Europe’s youth that was being held in Turin, Italy, in December 2020. Unfortunately, the event had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 issues. Today, we are happy to report that the event has been rescheduled for December 2021. Here is a link to an Italian language article with all the details: Il cammino di Taizé riparte da Torino, con l'esposizione della Sindone (also includes an embedded video in Italian with English subtitles). Here is a link to Young people: The path of Taizé restarts from Turin, with the exhibition of the Shroud, an English translation of the article that was kindly provided by Joe Marino.

Posted November 22, 2021

In Memoriam

     Peter Soons

It is with deep sadness that I must report the passing on November 17, 2021 of our dear friend and colleague, Peter Soons, from a massive heart attack. We extend our deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences to his wife, Dalis, the Soons family and Peter's friends and colleagues for their loss. Peter created the holographic images of the Shroud that are on display in exhibits around the world and that helped people better see and understand the so-called 3-D properties of the Shroud's image. The above photograph was taken in 2012 in Alamogordo, New Mexico, when he and I were visiting Pete Schumacher and his Shroud Museum. Here is an excerpt from the e-mail I received from his wife, Dalis, on the evening of his passing:

"Dear Barrie,
I am very sad and sorry to let you know that Peter passed away today. He had a massive heart attack. I will like to thank you for all the support, trust and the special friendship you had with Peter, which I treasured in my heart. Thank you for the precious moments you shared with him. He was inspired by you and thousands of People to pursue his investigations. He loved God above all and all his work was guided by Him. Would you please inform the People of Turin... of his death and legacy.
Blessings. Dalis"

Since the news broke, a number of researchers have commented on Peter's passing so we are including them below.

Barrie Schwortz

***************

"...Petrus was a dear friend to me and I shared with him many beautiful Shroud moments in various parts of the world. I am left with the memory of a man deeply in love with the Shroud and its message. Thank you, dear friend, for letting me know..."

Bruno Barberis

***************

"Very sad news, indeed. Enclosed you will find two pics taken in Jerusalem several years ago. In one of them, Peter is with Father Guerra, now they meet again in the light of our Lord. Rest in peace, my friend!" [Editor's Note: Here are links to the two photos Paolo sent: Peter, Barrie and Paolo - Peter and Fr. Hector Guerra]

Paolo Di Lazzaro

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"It is with sadness that I see this sad information about Petrus. He was so kind to help me with my last paper. Prayers and Blessings."

Janis Winchester

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"Very sad indeed. Requiescat in Pace."

Marcel Alonso

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"Requiescat in Pace!"

Gertrud Wally

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"May Petrus Soons' memory be eternal. I am grateful to him for his valuable work concerning the Holy Shroud, and his memory will continue to live on in association with none other than Jesus Christ. Rest in peace. My deep condolences to his family."

Teddi Pappas

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"Petrus has now the possibility to see on front of him the Real Holy Face! His scientific research has been exceptional but above all he has left us something of him (see below) that will not perish over time. We will always remember you, dear friend, and your kindness!" [Editor's Note: Here is a link to the photo Giulio sent us - Petrus Soons]

Giulio Fanti

Posted November 22, 2021

News From STERA, Inc.
2021 Fundraising Campaign Launched

STERA, Inc. Secure Contribution Form

Once a year, STERA, Inc. launches its annual fundraising effort to support the website and our other long term projects. As we have stated previously, with the large number of visitors we have each year, we could generate substantial revenue by allowing advertising on the site (like most websites do), but we have never allowed ads in our 26 year history and have no intention of allowing them in the future! That means that we need your support to help make up the difference and every contribution is fully tax deductible. As President of STERA, Inc., I am obligated to solicit contributions from our viewers and subscribers, just like every other non-profit in the world. However, unlike most non-profits, we only have one annual fundraising effort near the end of each year. We prefer not to bombard you with continuous requests for contributions like most other non-profits do (which I am sure you appreciate). But now, that time has come again so here are some reminders of the ways you can support STERA, Inc.

The newest method for supporting STERA, Inc. is via "Deal Aid," which allows you to shop and save money at thousands of popular online retailers while they donate to STERA, Inc. at no cost to you. Unlike some other platforms that only donate 0.5% of their proceeds to the charity of your choice, Deal Aid will donate up to 50% of sales on each order. This is a great new way to support STERA, Inc. without spending anything beyond your normal online purchases.


Another means of supporting STERA, Inc. is via "Giving Assistant," which allows you to shop at more than 3000 of your favorite brand-name stores and receive cash back for all your purchases. You can then specify what percentage of your cash back earnings you would like to have automatically donated directly to STERA, Inc. We already have several supporters using this method and we encourage our viewers who shop online to help support us this way. You can save money and help STERA, Inc. at the same time!


For the past few years we have participated in a non-profit program from Amazon called "Amazon Smile," which allows you to shop as you normally do and Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price directly to STERA, Inc. They charge no fees for this service and you can even adjust your settings to automatically enter Amazon Smile every time you log on to their website. It provides an easy way to support our work and this website without spending anything extra. [NOTE: If you are an AmazonSmile customer, you can now support STERA, Inc. in the Amazon shopping app on your Android device! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations: 1: If you have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping App, open the App on your Android device. 2: View Settings and select AmazonSmile. 3: Follow the in-App instructions to complete the process.


We have also joined with eBay For Charity to provide an additional way to support Shroud.com and STERA, Inc. You can use it whether buying or selling on eBay and a percentage that you designate is donated to STERA, Inc.


You can also support STERA, Inc. and Shroud.com by purchasing items directly from our Website Store page. With the holidays fast approaching, you might want to review some of the items we make available, including a miniature Shroud replica, a set of high quality lithographic prints, several different Shroud transparencies in backlit PhotoGlow frames, a new, fine art print of the Shroud face and a number of DVD's. Any of them would make great gifts for your favorite Shroudie! Order by December 1st for Christmas delivery.


Of course, we have also made it very easy to safely make a tax deductible contribution online using PayPal or your credit or debit card via our Secure Contribution Form (or by clicking on the graphic at left or at the top of this article). The form also includes details on how you can contribute by Mail via check or even by telephone. Naturally, we hope many of you will contribute generously since we must rely in part on our viewers for financial support. We understand that you are constantly being asked to donate to many worthwhile organizations and hope you will consider STERA, Inc. and Shroud.com worthy of your support. As further incentive and to express our gratitude for your contributions, we are offering contributors a number of excellent gifts for their support. We thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity.

Barrie Schwortz
President, STERA, Inc.
Posted November 22, 2021

Shroud Conference Held in France

Shroud Conference Held in France
(Link to English language translation of MNTV web page)

Our good friend Louis Cador notified us recently of the 3rd MNTV Forum on the Shroud of Turin, sponsored by the Association Montre-Nous Ton Visage (MNTV), that was held in France at Notre-Dame de Grâce de Passy on October 16, 2021. Unfortunately, we got the news too late to include it in our last update (on September 30th). Speakers included Pierre de Riedmatten, Pr. Louis Cador (President of MNTV), Patrice Majou, Marcel Alonso, Olivier Cahart, Jean-Christian Petitfils, Alain Queinnec, Laurent Bouzoud and many others. Here is a link to the French language MNTV Website and a link to an English language translation of that same page via Google, where you can get the details of the event.

Posted November 22, 2021

Recently Published Papers & Articles

Physical or Theological Approach to Investigate the Shroud Image Formation by UV Radiation?
by Giovanni Fazio

A number of new papers and articles have been published since our last update and we are including them here today, along with several older papers that you might find interesting. The papers are listed chronologically, with the most recent paper at the top of the list. All have also been permanently archived on the Scientific Papers & Articles page (alphabetically by title) and the Website Library page (alphabetically by author) or the Religion & Philosophy page when appropriate. Note that we are only including a link to one of the papers on this page, but are continuing the list in a separate PDF document named, "Recently Published Papers & Articles - November 2021" that you can download and view at your leisure. We have also included another link to it at the bottom of this article.

Physical or Theological Approach to Investigate the Shroud Image Formation by UV Radiation? by Giovanni Fazio - International Journal of Theology, Philosophy and Science - No. 9, Year 5/2021 - November 8, 2021. Here is the abstract:

"In this article, we ask ourselves if it is possible that Corona Discharge or Vacuum UV radiation may have been the tools to produce the Shroud body image. We are convinced that both are not appropriate mechanisms. In fact, the start of these processes is based on inconsistent hypotheses for the natural sciences, although all that follows is rational, reasonable and acceptable. However, the big initial mole remains. The complexity of this situation is such that it seems to be in a world in part Transcendent and in part Immanent. Therefore, independently from the possible results that in a next future could be obtained, due to identified photochemical processes, the Scientific Method cannot accept both the hypotheses and, consequently, the experiments. The same is also for the Theological approach which discards both proposals."

Here is the link to a separate PDF document named, "Recently Published Papers & Articles - November 2021" that you can download and view at your leisure.

Posted November 22, 2021

Recently Published Books

Recently Published Books

In the past few months, several new Shroud books have been released, so we are including them here. We have also permanently archived all of the new titles on the Shroud of Turin Booklist page (alphabetically by author). To make it easy to find the newest additions, we have annotated their listings with "[Added 22 NOV 2021]" so you can simply search for that phrase on the Booklist page should you forget the titles.

The Hidden History of the Shroud of Turin by Jack Markwardt.

This is an important first book by noted Shroud scholar and historian, Jack Markwardt. (The included link is to the hardcover edition). Here is the online description:

"Is the world-famous Shroud of Turin an authentic relic of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ or is it the product of one of the most cunning hoaxes ever perpetrated? In 1978, scientists established that the relic’s image was not created by paint, and, in 1988, the relic’s fabric was radiocarbon-dated to late-medieval times, a conclusion which was subsequently determined to be unreliable. In this book, Jack Markwardt, an internationally-renowned Turin Shroud historian, discloses and discusses the relic’s entire hidden history, from the time of its discovery in Jesus’ tomb to the time of its first exhibition in Western Europe, detailing why and how its history became obscured and negating the dubious 1988 radiocarbon-dating results."

Hardcover (Paperback & Kindle): 396 pages
Publisher: Independently published (November 15, 2021)
Language: English
ASIN: B09LWGV9GG
ISBN-13: 979-8767476381

Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible by Myra Kahn Adams.

This is a new book by Myra Adams that mentions the Shroud throughout. Myra is the founder and Executive Director of the Shroud centered SignFromGod.org. Here is the online description:

"Author Myra Kahn Adams’ popular, ongoing, weekly Sunday Bible study on Townhall.com has been compiled into a book requested by Townhall readers.The first 56 studies geared to those with no biblical knowledge reflect Adams’ unique faith journey — Jewish by birth encompassing Messianic Judaism, mainline Protestantism, Evangelical Christianity, and Catholicism. The studies link the Old and New Testaments with Jesus as the “star.” Harry Hargrave, CEO, Museum of the Bible, Washington, D.C., wrote the foreword."

Kindle and Paperback: 274 pages
Publisher: Xulon Press (September 1, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1662824750
ISBN-13: 978-1662824753

The Holy Grail - The Knights Templar by Manuel Alcaide.

Here is the online sub-title: Templar Book: HOLY GRAIL-SHROUD-THE CRUSADES-KING ARTHUR. Here is the online description (which does not mention the Shroud):

"It is said that they became the protectors of the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant, a chest that would contain remains of the 10 Commandments. How did the history of the Knights Templar cause them to come across the mysterious object known as the Holy Grail? Legend says these are intimately linked with the cup of Christ. In some texts from the early Middle Ages, mentions such as "San Gréal" appear, which has given rise to speculation, according to which "San Gréal" would be a derivation of "Sang Réal", or what is the same, "blood real." Thus, the Order of the Knights Templar is one of the themes in history that still holds the most enigmas and secrets inside. Not only was it the most important medieval chivalric order, but its relevance, its historical imprint remains until today, seven hundred years after its terrible and unjust end at the hands of Philip IV, King of France and Pope Clement. In this manuscript we will delve into the remote origins of the holy grail, in its journey to this day."

Kindle only: 528 KB (281 pages)
Published: January 18, 2021
Language: English
ASIN: B08TDNL9ZP
Posted November 22, 2021

Shroud Related Videos and Audios

EWTN Video Interview with Dr. Cheryl White
(Link to entire program. Interview video starts at 19:09 and ends at 24:07)

In today's update you will find many new Shroud related videos and audios featuring interviews and presentations by many noted Shroud scholars. One of the advantages of the podcast format is that most are unedited, unlike the cable television documentaries on the Shroud that edit every word, and they often have no time limit, so you get to hear complete and more detailed discussions. Once again, there were far too many to include on this page, so we have only included one here and created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted November 22, 2021

The Shroud on the Internet

Shrouded connections: Serbia, the Shroud, and the Holy Face of Laon by James Day

Quite a few internet articles have been published since our last update so we are including some of them here. Of course, we can't include everything on this page, or you would be scrolling forever, so we have once again created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted November 22, 2021

Our Next Update

Our next update, on January 21, 2022, marks our 26th Anniversary on the internet! As always, it will include any new papers, books, articles, podcasts and videos that become available between now and then. To be sure you don't miss any important Shroud information as it occurs, check our STERA, Inc. Facebook page from time to time, since Joe Marino is now updating it for us to keep you informed between our regular website updates. (I still do not have access to the page). You can also join our Website Mailing List and receive an e-mail whenever the site is updated (3 or 4 times per year) or any important Shroud news breaks. We hope you find this update interesting and informative and look forward to seeing you again after the holidays. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and healthy New Year!

Barrie Schwortz
Editor & Founder, Shroud.com
President, STERA, Inc.

Posted November 22, 2021

Fall Update! September 30, 2021

 Five Previously Unpublished STURP Papers Now Available

In the three months since our last update, another huge amount of Shroud materials have become available and we are including it all in this update, so it is another large one that should keep you busy for some time to come. I suggest you pack a lunch (and a snack)! Here is a brief overview of what is included:

We start with five previously unpublished papers by STURP team members and the addition of eighteen earlier printed issues to our archive of the important Italian language journal Collegamento pro Sindone (1985-2000). Also included are links to the latest issue of Sindon, a memorial for noted Shroud scholar Mary Whanger, more Shroud bibliographies by Joe Marino, details of an upcoming Museum of the Bible Shroud event and links to over twenty new papers. We also bring you news of a postgraduate course in Shroud studies and take a look at the Shroud with some new imaging software. Of course, there are also links to many new books, websites, internet articles, videos, audios, podcasts and much more. Although not mentioned elsewhere in this update, we also have added Urdu and Sindhi language translations to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. We hope you find this update useful and thank you again for being there! - Barrie Schwortz - Editor

Here is the Update Table of Contents:

Five Previously Unpublished STURP Papers Now Available

A Scientific Search for New Images on the Holy Shroud of Turin by Computer Enhancement
by Donald Devan, Eric Jumper, Ph.D. and John Jackson, Ph.D. - 1974

As we reported in an earlier article, since his so-called "retirement," Joe Marino has obviously devoted most of his new "free" time in his continuing effort to find important Shroud resources and make them available to everyone. That is certainly true of this update, as you will see as you scroll through the new content below. Perhaps the most exciting find in Joe's latest contributions are five previously unpublished papers authored by members of the STURP team, including one written several years before the team was officially formed. Although some of the technology described is now obsolete, the papers provide an important historical insight into the most extensive scientific examination of the Shroud in its history. Joe has had these papers in his own collection for decades and cannot recall the exact source, but believes the papers came from Dorothy Crispino, the editor and publisher of the journal Shroud Spectrum International (although for some reason, none of the papers were ever included in the journal). To be precise, one of the papers was actually included in the proceedings of a conference, but we can find no evidence that the other four were ever published. We are listing the five papers below in chronological order and have also added them to the Scientific Papers & Articles page, the Website Library page and the STURP Published Papers page (since they are published now).

Posted September 30, 2021

New Issue of Sindon Now Available

Sindon Issue No. 0, January 2020
(Link to Sindon Online English Language Page)

We are happy to report that the latest issue of Sindon (No. 3), has recently been added to the Sindon online archive. Earlier issues from October 1959 to April 1973 are also now available. This latest issue features articles by Gian Maria Zaccone, Alessandro Piana, Mons. Giuseppe Ghiberti, Mechthild Flury-Lemberg, Alfonso Sanchez Hermosilla and much more. To make it easy for viewers to access the journal, the CISS has kindly provided both English Language and Italian Language gateway pages on their website. Most of the articles in the current issues are available in both languages. The early issues are provided in pdf format and of course, are primarily in Italian. The page continues to be updated with more of the earlier issues, so check back from time to time. Once again, our sincere thanks to all the people at the CISS for their ongoing efforts to preserve this important resource and continue its legacy in their new multi-language issues.

Posted September 30, 2021

Eighteen Collegamento pro Sindone Printed Issues Added to Archive

Collegamento pro Sindone Issue #17
(Link to Collegamento pro Sindone archive on Shroud.com)

As we announced in our last update, we have begun the archiving here on Shroud.com of all the earlier printed issues of the Italian language journal Collegamento pro Sindone (1985-2000). In today's update we have added eighteen more issues to the archive, (from January 1986 to December 1988), all of which can be found on the Collegamento pro Sindone page of the site. Our sincere thanks to our dear friends Emanuela Marinelli and her brother, Maurizio Marinelli, for making them available to us.

The journal started publication of their print edition in February of 1985 and continued doing so through 2000, when they discontinued the printed version in favor of publishing it solely on their website. As the printed issues grew in size and scope of content, their importance as a credible Shroud journal also grew. Starting with their January-February 1986 issue (included in today's update), they published six issues each year for the next fifteen years, so the archive will eventually include all 90 of those issues as well. We will keep adding issues until the archive is complete. Our sincerest thanks to Emanuela and all of the respected Shroud scholars and researchers who contributed to make this journal such an important resource.

Posted September 30, 2021

In Memoriam

     Mary W. Whanger

It is with deep sadness that we must report the passing on August 31, 2021 of Mary W. Whanger, the wife of the late Dr. Alan D. Whanger, who died in 2017. Mary worked side by side with Alan in their extensive research on the Shroud for several decades and presented a number of their jointly authored papers at Shroud conferences over the years. We are grateful to Phil Dayvault, who worked directly with the Whangers for many years, for letting us know of her passing. Below is the text of the e-mail (reprinted with permission) that he sent to the online Shroud Science Group (SSG). We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Whanger family, friends and colleagues for their loss. Since the news broke, a number of researchers have commented on Mary's passing so we are including them below.

Barrie Schwortz

"I recently received word that Mary W. Whanger of Durham, NC, passed away on August 31, 2021, and was buried on September 2, 2021. Mary was the wife of the late Dr. Alan D. Whanger, who died in 2017. She had been in declining health in recent months. Alan and Mary, several others and I formed a 501(c)3 nonprofit research group, the Council for Study of the Shroud of Turin, CSST, in 1994. It dissolved in 2020 and had a successful 25-year run. During this time, Alan and Mary published their book, The Shroud of Turin: An Adventure in Discovery, which chronicled many of their discoveries. They also wrote many articles and participated in numerous Shroud conferences. I had the privilege of serving on the CSST Board of Directors for its entirety and served as its Executive Director from 1994 to 2003. Alan and Mary will be missed by all who knew them. May they Rest in Peace…reunited once again for eternity. No further details are currently available."

Phil Dayvault
Raleigh, NC.

***************

So very sorry to hear this. I was blessed to visit and stay with them several times. Precious and gracious people. May the Lord welcome them open arms and "well done, good and faithful servants."

RIP dear friends
In Christ
Ken Stevenson

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Prayers for you also Phil for all you did for them over the years. Mary was a precious lady, very smart for all her work on the Holy Shroud. In 2019, Mary treated me to dinner, where she lived, and showed me the work she and her husband presented. Eternal Light for her in the Love and Mercy of God.

Blessings,
Janis Winchester

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I express my sincere condolences for this profound moment of mourning.

Giulio Fanti
***************
Thanks to you Phil for this short obituary. Requiescant in Pace dear Mary and Alan,

Marcel Alonso
***************
Nice Job Phil. My condolences to the Whanger family and all that are touched here and throughout their circle.

Giorgio Bracaglia
Posted September 30, 2021

New Software Looks at the Shroud

New Software Looks at the Shroud

In July of this year I posted an article to the online Shroud Science Group (SSG) titled, Application of ProHawk Imaging Software to Shroud Ventral Image, that detailed a new look at the Shroud image via ProHawk video enhancement and analysis software. The article included two high resolution images provided by ProHawk that resulted from their processing, along with several other images that documented the software filters they used. I am including an updated version of the article, along with links to the two resulting high resolution images for your information. A word of caution here. When zoomed in to 100%, the images do show some artifacting that can easily be misinterpreted by the uninitiated, so please avoid sending me any "I think I see..." suggestions. To summarize my conclusions, although no NEW information was revealed by their processing, the software was able to visualize the banding in the structure of the Shroud cloth that was only previously visible in the transmitted light photographs I made in 1978. I thought that was important enough to share it with the SSG and with you. Here is the introduction to the article:

"In July 2020 I received an e-mail from Royce de Melo of Tactical Intelligence International regarding the ProHawk video enhancement and analysis software that their company represents. They were interested in knowing if their software could in some way contribute to the image analysis of the Shroud. They were even gracious enough to offer STERA, Inc. a gratis copy of their software to explore its application to the study of the Shroud. Unfortunately, their software requires a rather powerful workstation to run properly, and none of STERA's computers were up to the job, so I had to decline their offer..." (Continue reading...)

Posted September 30, 2021

More Bibliographies by Joe Marino

Link to PDF document: Bibliographies by Joe Marino

As we reported in our June 2021 update, Joe Marino created and posted on Academia.edu a series of Shroud related bibliographies that should prove very useful for Shroud scholars around the world. Since then, he has added another eight new bibliographies, so we are once again listing them here. Although we are including individual links to all of them on the Scientific Papers & Articles page (alphabetically by title - filed under "Bibliographies") and the Website Library page (alphabetically by author), we thought it might also be useful to include them all in a single pdf document that you can download and use at your leisure, so we have also updated that file with the new additions. You can access it via the above image or via the additonal link at the end of the list below.

Here is the link to a single PDF document that includes all twenty-two bibliographies: Bibliographies by Joe Marino.

Posted September 30, 2021

Postgraduate Certificate in Shroud Studies 2021-2022 (English Edition)

Link to Postgraduate Certificate in Shroud Studies 2021-2022 (English Edition)

The Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum in Rome has announced that registration is now open for their Postgraduate Certificate in Shroud Studies (English Edition). Note that registration closes on October 31, 2021, so visit their site promptly if you are interested in enrolling, The site provides necessary registration information and a detailed description of the courses offered. The courses are available in person or online and are also available in Spanish and Italian language editions. Faculty members and lecturers include such respected Shroud scholars as Nello Balossino, Bruno Barberis, Tristan Casabianca, Andrew Dalton, Paolo Di Lazzaro, Roberto Falcinelli, Ada Grossi, Kelly Kearse, Flavia Manservigi, Alfonso Muñoz-Cobo, Rafael Pascual, Marco Riani, Luigi Rodella, Alfonso Sánchez Hermosilla, Barrie Schwortz, Enrico Simonato and Joseph Spence.

Posted September 30, 2021

Museum of the Bible Shroud Event Scheduled in October

Link to Museum of the Bible Shroud Event Scheduled in October

We are very pleased to announce that the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., is hosting a special Shroud speakers event that will take place from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT on October 9, 2021. The program is titled, "Shroud of Mystery: The World's Most Analyzed Artifact" and will feature presentations by four world renowned Shroud scholars: Dr. Cheryl White, Russ Breault, Joe Marino and Fr. Peter Mangum. We are even happier to report that the first three speakers are all members of STERA, Inc.'s Board of Directors. According to the Museum's website, the event is being made available both in person or virtually, but tickets are required for both and may soon be sold out, so act quickly if you wish to attend. This event is a prelude to the opening of the Museum's groundbreaking Shroud Exhibition that will debut on February 26, 2022 and run through July 31, 2022. Our special thanks to Myra Adams and her Sign From God organization for initially approaching the Museum and encouraging them to mount a Shroud exhibit and for keeping us informed as the events developed. Visit the Sign From God website for more information about their organization .

Posted September 30, 2021

Recently Published Papers & Articles

Shroud of Turin ultraviolet light images: color and information content
by Thomas McAvoy

Many new papers and articles have been published in recent months and we are including them all in today's update, along with several older papers that you might find interesting. You will find that a large number of the new papers are from Joe Marino, who continues to compile an enormous amount of valuable and important Shroud information. In this update, among a number of different topics, Joe has included several papers that feature prominent members of the STURP team (Rogers, Adler, Jackson). The papers are listed chronologically, with the most recent paper at the top of the list. All have also been permanently archived on the Scientific Papers & Articles page (alphabetically by title) and the Website Library page (alphabetically by author) or the Religion & Philosophy page when appropriate. Note that we are only including a link to one of the papers on this page, but are continuing the list in a separate PDF document named, "Recently Published Papers & Articles - September 2021" that you can download and view at your leisure. We have also included another link to it at the bottom of this article.

Shroud of Turin ultraviolet light images: color and information content by Thomas McAvoy - OSA Publishing, Applied Optics, Volume 60, Issue 22, pp. 6604-6613, 2021. (Abstract only - the full article is behind a pay wall) - Here is the abstract:

"This paper builds on an earlier paper [Appl. Opt. 58, 6958 (2019) [CrossRef]] that analyzed web ultraviolet light (uv) photographs of the Shroud of Turin. In the earlier paper, it is shown that the Shroud exhibits very unique spatially varying uv fluorescence properties. The web uv images have colors significantly different from versions of them published in 1981. This paper examines whether the color difference indicates that the web images have deteriorated over time and if so whether information content in them is suspect. The limitations of the methodology used are discussed in the Introduction. Subject to these limitations, it is shown that deterioration probably has not occurred and that significant information can be extracted through image processing of the uv web images." [Editor's Note: The author has expressed certain concerns about the methodology used to scan Vern Miller's original film. He stated, "I did not want researchers using the color corrected images on shroudphotos.com for intensity analysis, which would lead to incorrect results." Of course, the color corrected images can still be used for analysis of the color differences that indicate differences in chemical composition.]

Here is the link to a separate PDF document named, "Recently Published Papers & Articles - September 2021" that you can download and view at your leisure.

Posted September 30, 2021

Recently Published Books

Recently Published Books

In the past few months, several new Shroud books have been (or are soon to be) released, so we are including them here. We have also permanently archived all of the new titles on the Shroud of Turin Booklist page (alphabetically by author). To make it easy to find the newest additions, we have annotated their listings with "[Added 30 SEPT 2021]" so you can simply search for that phrase on the Booklist page should you forget the titles. We are also grateful to our dear friend Emanuela Marinelli for providing us with an update to our Booklist page that includes more than 40 additional titles. Grazie mille!

Byzantine Coins Influenced by the Shroud of Christ by Giulio Fanti.

This is a new book by Shroud scholar Giulio Fanti that should be of interest to Shroud scholars and numismatists alike, since it contains more than 270 color and black & white illustrations. It is available for pre-order now and will ship after November 18, 2021. Here is an excerpt from the online description:

"Numerous studies have been carried out on Byzantine coins, but there are still no univocal interpretations on the details of the figures represented there and in particular on those relating to Jesus Christ. The information derived from the studies on the Holy Shroud, the most important Relic of Christ in Christianity, has clearly resulted in some new interpretations..."

Hardcover: 378 pages
261 Color & 11 B/W Illustrations
Publisher: Jenny Stanford Publishing (November 18, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-9814877886


An Artful Relic: The Shroud of Turin in Baroque Italy by Andrew R. Casper.

In addition to the above link to Amazon, you can also order the book directly from the PSU Press Website and save 30% by entering the Discount Code NR21 upon checkout. Act quickly because these discounts eventually expire. (We just heard from the publisher that the discount code will be valid through the end of this year). Here is an excerpt from the online description:

"In 1578, a fourteen-foot linen sheet bearing the faint bloodstained imprint of a human corpse was presented to tens of thousands of worshippers in Turin, Italy, as one of the original shrouds used to prepare Jesus Christ’s body for entombment. From that year into the next century, the Shroud of Turin emerged as Christianity’s preeminent religious artifact. In an unprecedented new look, Andrew R. Casper sheds new light on one of the world’s most famous and controversial religious objects..."

Hardcover: 216 pages
Publisher: Penn State University Press; 1st edition (September 29, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0271090391
ISBN-13: 978-0271090399

The Tree of Life - The Form of Human Consciousness by Stephen B. Machnik.

This book includes a chapter on the Shroud (although that chapter is not available in the online preview). The author was kind enough to send us the following information:

"...although much of the book is an abstract appreciation of symbolic consciousness, I also researched the historical record of sacred history and symbolic continuity. The research began with Joseph of Arimathea, the Holy Grail, and a possible symbolic conflation with the Shroud of Turin. I did extensive research on the origins of the Shroud ownership and showed that there were possible crossovers between the two legends. Chapter 11 traces the origins of the Holy Grail, and shows that there are etymological commonalities to the Shroud of Turin. In chapter 12, I trace the origins and chronology of the Shroud of Turin, and include tables showing the German, French, Hungarian, Byzantine, and Kings of Jerusalem, owners or persons associated with the Shroud." Also available online at Amazon.

Paperback, Hard Cover, E-book: 376 pages
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers - Resource Publications (April 12, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1725285545 (Paperback)

Posted September 30, 2021

Shroud Related Videos and Audios

Shroud Wars - Dr. Cheryl H. White vs. Hugh Farey
Real Seeker Ministries Podcast with Dale Glover
(Link to 1:22:39 YouTube video)

As we mentioned in our last update, audio visual presentations are fast becoming the new "normal" on the internet. In this update you will find many new Shroud related videos and audios featuring interviews and presentations by many noted Shroud scholars. One of the advantages of the podcast format is that most are unedited, unlike the television documentaries on the Shroud that edit every syllable, and they often have no time limit, so you get to hear complete and more detailed discussions. There were far too many to include on this page, so we have only included one here and once again created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted September 30, 2021

The Shroud on the Internet

Link to Shroud 3D Website by Dr. Petrus Soons

Once again, a large number of internet articles have been published since our last update so we are including some of them here. Also new is the return of the updated and expanded Shroud 3D Website by Dr. Petrus Soons, which had been offline for around two years. Of course, we can't include everything on this page, or you would be scrolling forever, so we have once again created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted September 30, 2021

Future Lecture Schedule

Frame taken from a recent Zoom presentation

For obvious reasons, I have not posted a Lecture Schedule here for the past two years since literally everything was cancelled. In the meantime, the COVID-19 virus issues and reaching my 75th birthday recently have prompted me to re-evaluate my future travel and lecture plans. Until 2020, I had been doing around 40,000 air miles per year, but was already looking to cut back when the virus arrived and everything just stopped. Since then, I have done many online virtual presentations with great success. I have decided that, in the future, I will do fewer in-person presentations and more virtual presentations, which offer many advantages to those wishing to book me as a speaker. An online virtual presentation eliminates the costs of airline tickets, hotels, meals and ground transportation and only requires a modest, tax deductible contribution to STERA, Inc. This also makes it possible for smaller organizations to have me speak that might otherwise never afford an in-person presentation. Ultimately, virtual presentations make it possible for me to reach a much broader audience. Below are the few events that are already scheduled, but remember that things can change quickly, depending on circumstances. There are still several additonal lectures being considered so the schedule will probably grow. Also, some of the times and venues are still not finalized and subject to change. I will do my best to update them prior to the events.

Posted September 30, 2021
Updated November 22, 2021

Our Next Update

We are planning our next update for late November, although we don't know an exact date at this moment in time. It will be considerably smaller than today's update and will be the last update of the year, but we will still include any new papers, books, articles, podcasts and videos that become available between now and then. To be sure you don't miss any important Shroud information as it occurs, check our STERA, Inc. Facebook page from time to time, since Joe Marino is now updating it for us to keep you informed between our regular website updates. (I still do not have access to the page). You can also join our Website Mailing List and receive an e-mail whenever the site is updated (3 or 4 times per year) or any important Shroud news breaks. We hope you find this update interesting and informative and look forward to seeing you again in November.

Barrie Schwortz
Editor & Founder, Shroud.com
President, STERA, Inc.

Posted September 30, 2021

(Long Overdue) Summer Update! June 30, 2021

 Collegamento Pro Sindone on Shroud.com

I had hoped to get this update online by the end of May, but as you can see, I am a full month behind in getting it to you. (So much for a "Spring" update)! Frankly, with everyone staying home and spending more time on the internet over the past fifteen months, our web traffic and e-mail volume increased dramatically and I am busier now than I was before the pandemic! As you can imagine, a huge amount of material accumulated since our last major website update in January. Since then, we also experienced Easter and the entire Lenten Season, when historically, people do turn their attention to the Shroud and which always generates lots of new books, papers, articles and videos and is consistently our busiest time of year. So this update is another large one that should keep you busy through the summer!

We are very proud to announce that, starting with today's update, Shroud.com is becoming the new online archive of the earlier printed issues of the important Italian language journal Collegamento pro Sindone (1985-2000). Also included are links to the latest issue of the BSTS Newsletter, word of a new Shroud exhibition in Switzerland, links to an important new series of Shroud bibliographies that will be welcomed by Shroud scholars, links to many new books, papers, websites, internet articles, videos, audios, podcasts and much more. Although not mentioned elsewhere in this update, we also have updated our Speakers Directory and Shroud Centers & Organizations pages. Enjoy the update and thanks again for being there! - Barrie Schwortz - Editor

Here is the Update Table of Contents:

Collegamento pro Sindone Printed Issues (1985 - 2000) Now Available on Shroud.com

Collegamento pro Sindone Issue #8
(Link to Collegamento pro Sindone page on Shroud.com)

I am very pleased to announce that in today's update we begin the archiving here on Shroud.com of the earlier printed issues of Collegamento pro Sindone (1985-2000). As long time viewers will recall, we have had a page on this website dedicated to Collegamento pro Sindone since our earliest days and have worked closely with our dear friend Emanuela Marinelli ever since. Until now, the page only contained links to the Collegamento pro Sindone website and some English translations of select articles from the Italian language journal, but not the journals themselves. That all changes today!

The journal started publication of their print edition in February of 1985 and continued doing so through 2000, when they discontinued the printed version in favor of publishing it solely on their website. According to Emanuela, the first seven printed issues (included in today's update) were rather "primitive," so they reformatted the publication starting with their November-December 1985 issue #8, which is also included in today's update. As the issues grew in size and scope of content, its importance as a credible Shroud journal also grew. Starting with their January-February 1986 issue, they published six issues each year for the next fifteen years, so the archive will eventually include all 90 of those issues as well. We will keep adding issues until the archive is complete. Our sincerest thanks to Emanuela and all of the respected Shroud scholars and researchers who contributed to make this journal such an important resource. We are thrilled at the opportunity to archive and preserve it here so that it remains freely and readily accessible to Shroud researchers into the future.

Posted June 30, 2021

Latest BSTS Newsletter Issue #93 Now Available

Latest BSTS Newsletter Issue #93 Now Available

Our good friend David Rolfe, Editor of the British Society for the Turin Shroud (BSTS) Newsletter, has informed us that Issue #93 is now available online. The Summer issue includes contributions by Ian Wilson, Mark Guscin, Mario Latendresse, Karlheinz Dietz, Anne Connolly, Andrew Willie, Luigi Antoniazzi, Pam Moon, Fr. Sebastian Jones and Robert A. Rucker. Online issues are available by subscription only via the BSTS Newsletter website at the above links. Currently, Issues #1 through #86 are available on our BSTS Newsletter Archive page here on Shroud.com. Subscribers to the printed edition can expect their copies shortly.

Posted June 30, 2021

Shroud Exhibition Scheduled in Switzerland

Shroud Exhibition Scheduled in Switzerland
Above link to event website (in German)

Deacon Andreas Neira, recently announced that a Shroud Exhibition titled, "Who is the man on the cloth? A Search for Traces," will take place August 15 to September 26, 2021, at the Parish Church of St. Mary in Wädenswil, Switzerland. The exhibition was conceived by the Maltese, the content was coordinated with the Archdiocese of Turin and has been traveling through Germany and German-speaking countries since 2013. Almost 200,000 visitors have been welcomed so far. Noted Shroud scholars will make presentations on select days throughout the event. Deacon Neira kindly sent us a pdf flyer for the event (in German) titled, Flyer Turiner Grabtuch, which we are including here with the details of the program and a speaker list. I have taken the liberty of creating a reasonably accurate online English translation of the flyer, which I have added at the end. I have been invited to participate and will be making a virtual presentation titled, "40 Years of Shroud Science: A Personal Perspective," on August 15th, the grand opening day of the event.

Posted June 30, 2021

Religion & Philosophy Page Updated

Religion & Philosophy Page Updated

Since the earliest days of this website, our primary focus has consistently been on the science of the Shroud, although we have always recognized the importance of the Shroud as an object of faith to more than a billion people in the world. To acknowledge that fact, we have included a Religion & Philosophy page on this site since our first day online in 1996, although it is admittedly far less extensive than the science section. The importance of the Shroud becomes particularly evident during the Lenten season and Easter, when historically, interest in the Shroud (and our web traffic) rises dramatically, and this year was no exception. Over the past few months a number of new articles and papers were published that were far more about faith than science, so we have updated the page and included them all in today's update. To keep this page from growing even longer, we are only including a link to the first article here and providing a link to a separate pdf file that includes all of them.

Symbolism and blood flow on the forehead of the Man of the Shroud of Turin by Pam Moon - Academia.edu - June 7, 2021. Here is the abstract:

"The blood flow on the forehead of the Man of the Shroud of Turin is highly noticeable. This paper examines subjective symbolic and theological interpretations of meaning in the shape of the blood flow. Biblical arguments for Jesus as the third Person of the Trinity are central to these meditations on meaning. It starts with the hypothesis that the Shroud wrapped Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was steeped in his Jewish heritage and yet he claimed to be God. The paper suggests that it is possible the Man of the Shroud has the Hebrew name of God (ש; shin) written in blood on his forehead. Similarly, the shape of the blood flow hints at the Shekhinah Glory of God, the words of the Shema Yisrael and the sacrificial blood of the Jesus on the cross, seen in the light of the story of the Passover. The paper also looks at Karen Jacks and Russ Breault's hypotheses about the Golden Gate in Jerusalem and the eschatological promises at the end of time, and at the nature of Jesus as the 'King of Righteousness.' Finally it examines the prophecy of Revelation where the servants of God will 'see his Face and his Name will be on their foreheads' and challenges Christian readers to seek the Face of God."

Recently Published Religion Articles - June 2021 - Link to a single pdf document file that includes links to a number of the Shroud related religous themed articles that appeared online in the past few months. You can simply download the pdf file and review the materials and links at your leisure.

Posted June 30, 2021

Bibliographies by Joe Marino

Link to PDF document: Bibliographies by Joe Marino

Ever since his official "retirement" from Ohio State University two and a half years ago, Joe Marino has output an amazing amount of Shroud scholarship, including his recent 804 page book, The 1988 C-14 Dating of the Shroud of Turin: A Stunning Expose. In addition to several new papers that we have included in this update, he has also created a series of fourteen bibliographies (so far) that are now available on Academia.edu and should prove very useful for Shroud scholars around the world. Although I am including individual links to all of them on the Scientific Papers & Articles page (alphabetically by title - filed under "Bibliographies") and the Website Library page (alphabetically by author), I thought it might also be useful to include them all in a single pdf document that you can download and use at your leisure. You can access it via the above image or via the additonal link at the end of the list below.

Here is the link to a single PDF document that includes all fourteen bibliographies: Bibliographies by Joe Marino.

Posted June 30, 2021

Recently Published Papers & Articles

Environmental influence on blood serum detection using ultraviolet 365
by Kelly Kearse

As always, many new papers and articles have been published in recent months and we are including a number of them here along with some important earlier papers that you might find interesting. The papers are listed chronologically, with the most recent paper at the top of the list. All have also been permanently archived on the Scientific Papers & Articles page (alphabetically by title) and the Website Library page (alphabetically by author). Note that we are only including links to the first three papers on this page, but are continuing the list in a separate PDF document named, "Recently Published Papers & Articles - June 2021" that you can download and view at your leisure. I have also included another link to it at the bottom of this article.

The Earliest Pilgrim Badges Produced for the So-Called ‘Shroud of Turin' by Ian Wilson - Peregrinations: Journal of Medieval Art and Architecture, 7, 3 (2021): 174-211 - May 1, 2021. Here is an excerpt from the article:

"...As far back as the 14th century, two high-level French ecclesiastics claimed the Shroud to be a forgery and in 1988 these allegations seemed proven when a carbon dating test ‘conclusively’ dated its fabric to between 1260 and 1390. The last four decades of this period coincided with the Shroud’s earliest known public showings in France, and this study focuses on the only two known examples of Shroud souvenir badges which date from this period: the first a badge proper, and the second a recently-discovered mold from which a badge of slightly different design would have been cast. It will be shown that the badge proper dates more than three decades later than has previously been supposed, whilst the badge represented by the mold was the one which was created for the earliest known showings..."

Environmental influence on blood serum detection using ultraviolet 365 by Kelly Kearse - Journal of Forensic Science and Research, 2021; 5: 030-036 - March 26, 2021. Here is an excerpt from the abstract:

"The major use of alternative light sources (ALS) in the evaluation of bloodstains has been primarily focused on detection of whole blood, with relatively little attention to visualization of blood serum. Serum may become separated from blood pools during clotting, and because it is relatively invisible on certain backgrounds, go undetected by a perpetrator attempting to clean up a crime scene. Recently, Ultraviolet 365 (UV 365) was shown to be an effective tool in blood evaluation, useful for detection of even minute quantities of blood serum. Here the effects of environmental conditions on blood serum stain appearance were evaluated, including temperature, pH, protease sensitivity, solubility, and aging…"

On Cleaning Methods and the Raw Radiocarbon Data from the Shroud of Turin by Larry Schwalbe and Bryan Walsh – International Journal of Archaeology 2021; 9(1): 10-16 – March 12, 2021. Here is an excerpt from the abstract:

“Among the more recent of coordinated studies of the Shroud was a radiocarbon dating of excised samples. The results, published in 1989, place the origin of the cloth to sometime in or around the 14th century. The objective of the present study is to survey the cleaning methods (or pretreatments) that were applied to the samples removed for the radiocarbon study. Specifically, we explore the extent to which these methods may have given rise to a peculiar structure in the "raw" radiocarbon data published in 2019.”

Here is the link to a separate PDF document named, "Recently Published Papers & Articles - June 2021" that you can download and view at your leisure.

Posted June 30, 2021

Recently Published Books

Recently Published Books

There were far too many new Shroud related books published recently to include them all on this page. Instead, we are only listing a few of them here and continuing the list on a separate PDF file linked here and at the bottom of this list in a file named Recently Published Books - June 2021. We have also permanently archived all of the new titles on the Shroud of Turin Booklist page (alphabetically by author). To make it easy to find the newest additions, we have annotated their listings with "[Added 30 June 2021]" so you can simply search for that phrase on the Booklist page should you forget the titles.

The Book of Geoffroi de Charny with the Livre Charny by Ian Wilson. Edited and translated by Nigel Bryant

This is the latest book from one of the foremost and respected Shroud scholars in the world, a book which represents almost ten years of in-depth research. Ian's latest findings will undoubtedly require some amending and correcting of Shroud history as we currently know it. As a nice bonus, the U.S. distributor, Boydell & Brewer has generously offered viewers of this website an exclusive 40% discount and free shipping through July 31, 2021. The book is also available from Amazon, but without the discount. Here is the note I received from the publisher:

"Dear Mr. Schwortz, Ian Wilson has asked me to get in touch with you about his new book, The Book of Geoffroi de Charny. Boydell & Brewer is currently running an offer on hardcovers - readers may use promo code BB870 on our website to get 40% off and free shipping through July 31, 2021. You are more than welcome to share this with your website readers! Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. Thanks and best wishes, Katie Kumler, US Marketing Manager, Boydell & Brewer - University of Rochester Press"

Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: Boydell Press (April 30, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1783275854


A Catholic Scientist Champions the Shroud of Turin by Dr. Gerard Verschuuren

Here is an excerpt from the online introduction:

"...despite its enormous global popularity, the Shroud's authenticity is not without question. To address lingering uncertainties head-on, celebrated Catholic scientist Dr. Gerard Verschuuren explores and synthesizes the various scientific studies conducted on the Shroud including those analyzing DNA, blood, carbon, pollen, textile, and anatomical issues as well as its storied history. He then scrutinizes the motives of the individual scientists performing these studies, the assumptions they employed to arrive at their conclusions, and the instances in which they veered into areas outside the competence of the sciences. After this exhaustive and highly satisfying analysis, Dr. Verschuuren reveals the reasons why he believes the Shroud of Turin to be the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ, the crucified Savior of mankind. And he celebrates it as a rare instance in which the science and faith communities can meet each other and agree."

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press (March 23, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1644133202
ISBN-13: 978-1644133200


The Wordless Weaver by Claudia Cangilla McAdam

We generally do not include works of fiction on our Booklist page, since there is already too much fiction published about the Shroud! On only several rare occasions have we made an exception to this policy, and in every case it was because the book was written specifically for children and needed to wrap the facts of the Shroud in a fictional story to make it more appealing and understandable. This beautifully illustrated book is an example of just such a title. Here is an excerpt from the online description:

"In this relatable, heartwarming story for children, The Wordless Weaver presents the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus through the eyes of a child. Filled with beautiful original artwork, this picture book shares the good news of Easter in a way that children will love."

Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (February 26, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1681924846
ISBN-13: 978-1681924847


The Jesus Microbiome: An Instagram from the First Century by Stephen J. Mattingly and Roy Abraham Varghese

This is the latest book from Dr. Stephen Mattingly, whose previous research promoted the theory that skin bacteria are responsible for creating the image on the Shroud. Here is an excerpt from the online description:

"...The Jesus Microbiome is a breakthrough book unveiling radically new but scientifically demonstrable, universally replicable and factually definitive findings on the most mysterious and controversial piece of cloth on earth: the Shroud of Turin. The implications of these never-before publicized findings are historic in nature... The Jesus Microbiome is not just another book about the Shroud. It is a journey into the first century through the 21st where the ancient world comes to life again through the medium of the microbiome."

Paperback: 364 pages
Publisher: Institute for Metascientific Research (January 22, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1736444700
ISBN-13: 978-1736444702


Posted June 30, 2021

Shroud Related Videos and Audios

The Shroud of Turin - The Experts Speak
The Cross and the Crescent Discussion Group
(Link to 2:01:31 YouTube video)

I believe we have reached a new milestone with the number of videos and audios we are including in today's update. Historically, through the Lenten season, we usually experience the highest number of internet articles about the Shroud. However, this year, although there were still many articles, there were many more videos, audios, podcasts and radio shows, marking a major change in how people are presenting their information online. Audio visual presentations are fast becoming the new "normal" on the internet. In this update you will find more than forty new Shroud related videos and audios featuring interviews and presentations by many noted Shroud scholars. One of the advantages of the podcast format is that most are unedited, unlike the television documentaries on the Shroud that edit every syllable, and they often have no time limit, so you get to hear complete and more detailed discussions. Since there were far too many to include on this page, we have only included one here and once again created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted June 30, 2021

The Shroud on the Internet

Was the Shroud's First-Century Origin Really Debunked? by Jim Bertrand
(Link to Inside the Vatican article)

As I mentioned earlier in this update, the Lenten season always generates a large volume of internet articles and stories about the Shroud and once again, this year was no exception. As one would expect at this time of year, a large number of the new articles are faith related and speak to the theological implications of the Shroud, although several discuss some of the recent scientific research on the cloth. We have tried to include a wide selection of articles that cover both the religious and scientific aspects of Shroud scholarship. Of course, we can't include everything on this page, or you would be scrolling forever, so we have once again created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted June 30, 2021

About the STERA, Inc. Facebook Page

Link to STERA, Inc. Facebook Page

I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of Facebook. Although we have had the page since May, 2012, over the years it has been an added burden on my time, which I would rather spend working on this website. However, I did make occasional posts until about a year ago, when I suddenly could not access the page at all (and I am its administrator). I could see the page, but as soon as I logged in I got the following error message: "Account Temporarily Unavailable. Your account is currently unavailable due to a site issue. We expect this to be resolved shortly. Please try again in a few minutes." That went on for months and we tested it with three different browsers on two different computers with no success, but I found that using an old Internet Explorer browser still allowed me access to the page. However, that all changed earlier this year and I haven't been able to access the page or post anything since March 3, 2021. None of my technical advisors can figure out what the problem is and I can't log into Facebook to ask for their help. Fortunately, over the past few months Joe Marino has been guest posting on the page so until the issues are resolved, I will send Joe any important update notices and he will post them on the Facebook page for me. Also, please don't try and communicate with me via Facebook, since I can't log in and answer your questions. Please send all correspondence directly to my e-mail address (which you can find using the Open E-mail Form link on the Send Us E-mail page of this site). Thank you for understanding. - Barrie Schwortz

Posted June 30, 2021

Our Next Update

Once again, it is difficult for me to predict exactly when the next website update will go online. As you could see from today's update, my predictions aren't always very accurate, as I had hoped to get the site updated by the end of May but in the end, I was a full month late. The next update will certainly be sometime in the Fall, but I have a large number of other obligations to complete over this summer, so I have to leave the date open right now. As always, the next update will include the latest papers, books, articles, podcasts, videos and any breaking Shroud news. To be sure you don't miss any important Shroud information as it occurs, check our STERA, Inc. Facebook page from time to time, since we now try and update it to keep you informed between our regular website updates. (See above article). You can also join our Website Mailing List and receive an e-mail whenever the site is updated (3 or 4 times per year) or any important Shroud news breaks. We hope you find this update interesting and informative and look forward to seeing you again later this year. Enjoy the update and have a great summer! See you in the fall.

Barrie Schwortz
Editor & Founder, Shroud.com
President, STERA, Inc.

Posted June 30, 2021

Special Update! March 4, 2021

Shroud On Television and Social Media April 3, 2021

Special Showing of the Shroud Announced by Archbishop of Turin
(Above link to Diocese of Turin Italian language announcement)

On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Mons. Cesare Nosiglia, the Archbishop of Turin, announced that on Saturday, April 3, 2021, there will be an extraordinary veneration of the Shroud in the Turin Cathedral, which will be broadcast live around the world on television and on social media platforms. This is similar to the special event held last year in the early days of the pandemic. The news was released on the Santa Sindone Offical Shroud Website (in Italian) and formally by the Diocese of Turin (in Italian), so we are including an English translation of the latter article below, courtesy of Joe Marino. Note that the times mentioned in the article are local Turin time, so you will have to calculate the correct time in your own time zone. For example, 5:00pm Turin time is 11:00am EST (6 hour difference). We will update this article as soon as any new information or details become available.

Holy Saturday: prayer in front of the Shroud live on satellite TV and social media

Reprinted from the Diocesi di Torino Website - Wednesday 3 March 2021 - Msgr. Nosiglia made the announcement for April 3 at 5pm (live on social media from 4.30pm)

Wednesday 3 March 2021 - Msgr. Nosiglia announced that a special liturgy will be held in front of the Shroud on Saturday 3 April from 4.30 pm. [The full text of his communication is attached below].

"In these troubled times we need to nurture and communicate our hope. And for us believers the most effective way to increase the hope of the whole world is through common prayer, by kneeling before the Lord.

"For this reason we celebrate, also on Holy Saturday, the day of silence before the tomb of the Lord but also of the expectation of his resurrection, a special liturgy in front of the Shroud that reminds us of this event, the living center of our faith and our hope.

"The appointment is therefore for Saturday 3 April, at 5 pm, from the Turin Cathedral. The liturgy will be broadcast live on TV2000 and the signal will reach, via satellites, the whole world, thanks to the collaboration of the Secretariat for Communication of the Holy See and the Vatican Television Center. The live broadcast will be accompanied by a presence on social media, to allow the widest possible audience to participate in this moment. The live broadcast on social media will begin at 4.30 pm, with interventions and testimonies that prepare for the contemplation of the Shroud.

"The prayer in front of the Shroud in this 2021 is not a simple repetition of the one celebrated in 2020. Last year we were in a completely unknown emergency situation; today we are more aware of the difficulties we face and the commitments we can make. Above all, we have understood that our first strength lies in continuing life with courage and helping those who are in difficulty and need.

"The prayer from the Duomo will see the participation of the young Turinese involved in the journey of preparation, who will also offer some testimonies on the pain and hope that have characterized this last year.

"I again wanted to invite the representatives of the institutions of Turin and Piedmont, so that they represent the entire people of our lands before the Shroud. I remain convinced, in fact, that the Cloth is a reality that speaks to everyone, beyond the different cultural convictions and beyond the diversity of faith. The Shroud image, which Turin has kept for almost 5 centuries, testifies to pain and death but also - and with what greater force! - resurrection and eternal life which opens to charity, to the brotherhood of every person. Before the Shroud we can truly exclaim once again, with our hearts turned to the Lord: "your love is forever."

Mons.Cesare Nosiglia
Archbishop of Turin and Bishop of Susa

Posted March 4, 2021
Updated April 3, 2021

25th Anniversary Update! January 21, 2021

 1978 In Black & White (Special Feature)

Welcome to the 25th Anniversary Update of Shroud.com! It is still hard for me to believe that 25 years have passed since I hit the "Send" button on January 21, 1996, and put Shroud.com online! It was my hope that this website could provide broader access to the actual science, which was not being reported accurately by the media and was not readily available to the general public. Little did I know that within two years, the internet would explode and change the world as we knew it. People often point out to me that we are the #1 organic search result for "Shroud of Turin" on Google. I have to remind them that we are two years older than Google! In retrospect, I believe the smartest thing I ever wrote was in the opening paragraph of our front page. It says, "We believe that if you have access to the facts, you can make up your own mind about the Shroud." After all these years, and with more than 2.2 million visits in 2020 alone, I still believe that presenting you with the most up-to-date Shroud information is our primary obligation and hope to continue this work for years to come. But we couldn't have done it without you, so thank you all for being there and your continued participation and ongoing support! Trust that you are all truly loved and appreciated.

This update is a bit different from our previous Anniversary issues. Noticeably absent is my 2021 Lecture Schedule, which I typically include in our January update, but my lectures this year have all been cancelled for obvious reasons. Since we are celebrating our 25th, I wanted to present you with something special, so we start this update with a Special Photo Feature sharing some never-before-published images from the 1978 STURP examination of the Shroud. Also included are links to a number of important new Shroud papers and books, the latest issues of Sindon and the BSTS Newsletter, an update from the Museum of the Bible, a memorial for an important member of the STURP team, links to many new websites, internet articles, videos, audios, podcasts and much more. One of the more difficult tasks in managing this website is trying to keep all the information on the site current. Over time, as the site grew and matured, some materials became obsolete or were no longer available. Although not mentioned elsewhere in this update, we just reviewed our Shroud Centers and Organizations page and brought all the entries there up to date. Also, our Website Store page has been updated and simplified to include only those items available directly from STERA, Inc. Enjoy the update, thanks again and stay safe! - Barrie Schwortz, Editor

Here is the Update Table of Contents:

1978 In Black & White (Special Feature)

1978 In Black & White

I spent considerable time over the past few months trying to think of something special I could include for our 25th Anniversary update, but nothing came to mind. Then I remembered something that has been stuck in the back of my mind for many years. Over three hundred of my photographs have been published since our 1978 examination of the Shroud and many are quite well known, but most of them represented only the color photographs I made during the event. However, throughout the 1978 examination I was using two Nikon 35mm SLRs to document the team at work and one of those cameras was always loaded with black & white film. With just a few exceptions, those black & white photographs have largely been ignored in favor of the color images and most have never been published, so I decided to put together a pdf gallery of images titled, 1978 In Black & White and share with you some of those "other" lesser known photographs. A small selection are from the "Dry Run" that was held in Amston, Connecticut, in September 1978, but most were taken in the Royal Palace during STURP's direct examination of the Shroud. The 55 photographs I selected include a variety of images of the team at work, portraits of some of the team members and their instruments and some behind-the-scenes moments you might find interesting. I have intentionally kept the captions short and simple so the images can speak for themselves. All these years later, I guess I'm still just a photographer at heart. Enjoy!

Posted January 21, 2021

UV Fluorescence - Digitally Revisited

UV Fluorescence Imagery of the Turin Shroud - Digitally Revisited
by Samuel Pellicori

As we reported in our November 7, 2020 update, Sam Pellicori detected some issues with the UV fluorescence photographs published on the ShroudPhotos.com website, which features the Shroud photographs made by the late Vernon D. Miller in 1978. (Sam was a member of the STURP team and worked directly with Vern in the taking of the photographs and was the co-author of their 1981 paper on that topic). Sam determined there was a problem with the color rendition of the UV fluorescence photographs and contacted Dr. Gilbert Lavoie, one of the sponsors of the site, to notify him of the problem. New digital scans were promptly made of the UV fluorescence images and these were digitally processed by Sam and our old friend, Michael Verbois, former Vice-president of Brooks Institute of Photography. I am happy to report that the updated images are now available on the Miller website. Here is a direct link to that page: UV Light Fluorescent Photos.

Sam also took the opportunity to update the UV fluorescence information based on the new scans of Vern's original film and the digital processing that was recently applied by Mike and compiled it into a new paper titled, UV Fluorescence Imagery of the Turin Shroud - Digitally Revisited, which was reviewed, accepted and recently published in the International Journal of Archaeology. This paper will also be archived on our Scientific Papers & Articles page (alphabetically by title) and our Website Library page (alphabetically by author). A special word of thanks to Sam, Gil and Mike for their efforts to make sure that the most accurate and up-to-date Shroud information is available to the public.

Posted January 21, 2021

Latest BSTS Newsletter Issue #92 Now Available

Latest BSTS Newsletter Issue #92 Now Available

Our good friend David Rolfe, Editor of the British Society for the Turin Shroud (BSTS) Newsletter, has informed us that Issue #92 is now available online. The Winter issue features articles by such notable Shroud scholars as Ian Wilson, Pam Moon and Jo Bywater, David Rolfe, Mark Guscin, Giorgio Bracaglia and Philippa Foster. Online issues are available by subscription only via the BSTS Newsletter website at the above links. We have also updated our BSTS Newsletter Archive page to include newsletter Issue #86. Currently, Issues #1 through #86 are available in the archives here on Shroud.com.

Posted January 21, 2021

New Issue of Sindon + 2 More Early Issues + Index Added

Sindon Issue No. 0, January 2020
(Link to Sindon Online English Language Page)

We are happy to report that the latest issue of Sindon (No. 2), along with two more early issues, have recently been added to the Sindon online archive. This includes Issue N10 from April 1966 and Issue N11 from May 1967. In addition, the CISS has also added an Index that covers all the early issues. Just click on the INDEX SINDON link to open the pdf file. This latest issue features a memorial to the passing of beloved Shroud scholar Luigi Rodella by Mauro Labanca, a 1534 Report of the Poor Clares of Chambery and articles by Paolo di Lazzaro, Dr. Cheryl White, Enrico Simonato and more. To make it easy for viewers to access the journal, the CISS has kindly provided both English Language and Italian Language gateway pages on their website. The early issues are provided in pdf format and of course, are primarily in Italian, although all the new issues are presented in both Italian and English. The page continues to be updated with more of the earlier issues, so check back from time to time. Once again, our sincere thanks to all the people at the CISS for their ongoing efforts to preserve this important resource.

Posted January 21, 2021

A Dream Fulfilled

Kevin Moran with his 3-D Printers and his VP-8
(Link to Let Your Light Shine Art website)

Those of us that knew the late Kevin Moran, optical engineer and devoted Shroud scholar who passed away in 2019, know that he spent the last few years of his life working with several 3-D printers in a dedicated effort to create a small, three dimensional Shroud face that could be backlit and used as a night light. As he worked on what would become his final engineering project, I spoke with him regularly and he frequently expressed his frustration that his health issues were interfering with realizing his dream of making those night lights available to everyone. Sadly, he was just finalizing the work when he left us. Now, almost two years after his passing and thanks to the efforts of two of his daughters, Sheila Moran Stevens and Julie Moran Medearis, who took up the task of finishing what their father had begun, Kevin's dream has finally been fulfilled!

Today you can visit the Let Your Light Shine Art website where the fruits of Kevin's efforts are now available to everyone. The site was created with a loving touch that bears witness to the love his family had for him and the deep faith that Kevin expressed throughout his life. In addition to the night lights, the website also includes a Gallery of Shroud images, a page that tells Our Story and includes some additional photos of Kevin, links to other Shroud websites and much more.

[Editor's Note: Over the years as Kevin worked on this project, he sent me several prototypes, which now serve as night lights in my bedroom and bathroom. Unfortunately, these little back lit night lights are rather difficult to photograph (I know because I tried), so the images on the above website do not fully depict the night lights the way they appear in person, which is much more dramatic. Julie and Sheila plan to improve the photographs in the near future. One last note. The above photograph shows Kevin wearing a tee shirt that I sent him that expressed a tongue-in-cheek description of engineers. It states, "I'm an Engineer. To save some time, let's assume I'm never wrong!" We miss you Kevin!]

Posted January 21, 2021

Museum of the Bible Exhibit and Conference Postponed Until 2022

Museum of the Bible Exhibit and Conference
(Link to MOB Website)

As we reported in our January 21, 2020 and November 7, 2020 updates, the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. is planning a major exhibit titled, Mystery & Faith: The Shroud of Turin. Originally scheduled for February 19 to August 1, 2021, the event has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues. The new dates are February 26, 2022 to July 31, 2022. In addition, the originally planned International Conference on the Shroud of Turin has also been postponed, but new dates have not yet been announced. The same is true of the closing dinner originally planned to honor three former STURP team members. We will keep you posted and update this notice as soon as new dates have been confirmed.

Posted January 21, 2021

In Memoriam

     Ernest 'Ernie' H. Brooks II
1935-2020

I am deeply saddened to report the passing of Ernest 'Ernie' H. Brooks II, on November 17, 2020, in Lacey, Washington. As President of Brooks Institute of Photography and a fellow member of the STURP photographic team, his passing touched me on a very personal level. Over the years, the passing of STURP team members has always been difficult for me. In many ways we were more than a team. We were like a family. So Ernie's passing hit me quite hard, even though I hadn't seen him in many years. When the late Vern Miller, head of the Scientific and Industrial Photographic Department at Brooks joined the STURP team, bringing with him then graduate student Mark Evans, Ernie immediately pledged the resources of the institute to assist in the research and became a member of the STURP team himself. As a graduate of Brooks Institute in 1971 and a part-time instructor at the institute for ten years myself, I had known Ernie for nearly fifty years. His knowledge, expertise and generous demeanor made him an important asset to the STURP team, both in Italy and at the institute in Santa Barbara, California. In the early 1980's, he sponsored and created a major exhibition of our team's Shroud photographs, which enjoyed many thousands of visitors before he presented the exhibit to Australian Shroud scholar Rex Morgan, who went on to tour the "Brooks Exhibit" throughout Australia and Asia. He was a legendary underwater photographer who worked with Jacques Cousteau and trained the photographers for Cousteau's famous research vessel "Calypso." His accomplishments are many more than we can list here, so I am including a few additional links below with some further insights into the man himself. We extend our sincerest sympathies and condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the countless photographers around the world who were educated, influenced and touched by him throughout his life. Rest in peace Ernie. Thank you for all that you did for all of us.

Barrie Schwortz
Posted January 21, 2021

Recently Published Papers & Articles

A revised, natural explanation for the Shroud of Turin image:
creation of a composite Maillard reaction by Kelly Kearse

As always, many new papers and articles have been published in recent months and we are including many of them here along with some earlier papers that you might find interesting. The papers are listed chronologically, with the most recent paper at the top of the list. All have also been permanently archived on the Scientific Papers & Articles page (alphabetically by title) and the Website Library page (alphabetically by author) or, when appropriate, on the Religion and Philosophy page (alphabetically by title) and the Website Library page (alphabetically by author). Note that we are only including links to a few papers on this page, but are continuing the list of new paper links in a separate PDF file named, "Recently Published Papers & Articles - January 2021," that you can download below and view at your leisure.

Posted January 21, 2021

Recently Published Books

Recently Published Books

A number of new Shroud related books have recently been published. We are listing them here but have also permanently archived the new titles on the Shroud of Turin Booklist page (alphabetically by author). To make it easy to find the newest additions, we have annotated their listings with "(Added January 21, 2021)" so you can simply search for that phrase on the Booklist page should you forget the titles.

What Christ Suffered by Thomas W. McGovern, M.D.

Here is part of a brief note sent to me by the author: "While we used images of the Shroud that STERA provided, I do not base any conclusions on the Shroud. In other words, I did not want to make this a book about the authenticity of the shroud. I bring in the shroud to either show how other evidence supports the authenticity of the shroud OR I say 'If the shroud is the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, then we also know 'x'..." Here is an excerpt from the book's online description:

"...While we know that Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem around A.D. 33, the details of his sufferings and death have been confused and obscured over the past two millennia. In What Christ Suffered: A Doctor's Journey Through the Passion, Dr. Thomas W. McGovern provides the most accurate, up-to-date understanding of the physical sufferings of Jesus Christ, drawing on ancient Greek and Latin literature about crucifixion, discoveries of ancient images, archaeology, medical reenactment studies, and medical case reports..."

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (January 15, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1681925761
ISBN-13: 978-1681925769

Raised on the Third Day edited by W. David Beck and Michael R. Licona

This book is a compilation of essays by invited authors that was created and published to honor the career and accomplishments of Dr. Gary R. Habermas, noted author, Professor of Apologetics and co-author with Ken Stevenson of the 1981 book, Verdict on the Shroud. He is also an old friend. It includes two essays specifically about the Shroud: "The Image on the Shroud: A Best Explanations Approach" by Mark W. Foreman and "The History and Current State of Modern Shroud Research" by Barrie M. Schwortz. [Editor's Note: My essay was written and delivered in 2019 so a few comments may already be out of date]. Here is an excerpt from the online description:

"Gary R. Habermas is one of the most influential Christian philosophers and apologists of the later twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. His life’s work has focused on matters pertaining to the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, and it is widely agreed that Habermas is the foremost authority on the subject. This festschrift is a tribute to that work."

Paperback: 392 pages
Publisher: Lexham Press (November 23, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1683594320
ISBN-13: 978-1683594321

Sindòn The mysterious Shroud of Turin: Essay by Guido Pagliarino & Nanni Marsili (Translator)

This link is to the Kindle Edition format of the book, but it is also available in a paperback version. Here is an excerpt from the online description:

“This essay divulges what the research has established about the famous Shroud of Turin, and it is not intended to persuade to believe that the Cloth of Turin really wrapped the body of Christ a couple of thousands year ago...”


Kindle File size: 6931 KB
Print length: 211 pages
Publication Date: November 11, 2020
Publisher: Tektime (November 11, 2020)
Language: English
ASIN: B08NCHSTVB


The Turin Shroud: Physical Evidence of Life After Death? (With Insights from a Jewish Perspective) by Mark Niyr

The author has graciously provided a Free PDF version of the book exclusively for viewers of Shroud.com. You can also view a short YouTube promotional video for the book. Our good friend Peter Soons wrote: "Well written and accessible for every reader. I consider the book an excellent introduction in the world of sindonology and especially the chapters where he quotes the Talmud and lots of other Jewish sources with information that I have not found in the literature until now." Here is an excerpt from the online description:

"The Turin Shroud is an intriguing scientific journey exploring one of the greatest mysteries of the world. It has captivated the curiosity of international scientists, as well as religious and non-religious inquirers. Hopefully, this book will elucidate insights which a casual observer may not think to consider, thereby enabling nonscientists to grasp the significance of findings that so astounds the scientific community. The Jewish perspective is also unique and intriguing. It elicits important insights: placing events and transporting readers into its historical context with surprising results. All facts have been meticulously documented with hundreds of notes and references..."

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Bookstand Publishing (November 2, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634988078
ISBN-13: 978-1634988070

Posted January 21, 2021

Shroud Related Videos and Audios

The Shroud of Turin - The Evidence of Authenticity
By Jesse Simpson (Link to 1:43:30 Vimeo video)

Once again, we have an interesting selection of Shroud related videos that feature a number of interviews with or presentations by notable Shroud scholars including, Russ Breault, Joe Marino, Bob Rucker, Pastor Caspar McCloud and many more. Since there were too many to include on this page, we have once again created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted January 21, 2021

The Shroud on the Internet

Acheiropoieta by Marco Grassi

Once again, there was a lot of Shroud related content on the internet over the holidays. Of course, we can't include everything on this page, or you would be scrolling forever, so we have once again created a separate pdf file that includes all of the links and descriptions in a single file that you can download and view at your convenience (see link below). Items are listed in chronological order with the most recent at the top of the list.

Posted January 21, 2021

Our Next Update

Truthfully, it is impossible to know at this moment exactly when the next website update will go online. It will be sometime in the Spring, but no dates have yet been determined. As always, the next update will include the latest papers, books, articles, podcasts, videos and any breaking Shroud news. To be sure you don't miss any important Shroud information as it occurs, check our STERA, Inc. Facebook page from time to time, since we now try and update it to keep you informed between our regular website updates. You can also join our Website Mailing List and receive an e-mail whenever the site is updated (3 or 4 times per year) or any important Shroud news breaks. We hope you find this update interesting and informative and look forward to seeing you again in the Spring.

Barrie Schwortz
Editor & Founder, Shroud.com
President, STERA, Inc.

Posted January 21, 2021

Archived Website News pages: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996


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