image. . . for the Solemn Exposition of an Official Replica of the Shroud of Turin, authorized by the Archdiocese of Turin, Italy:

Come and See! by Bishop David Motiuk, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton

Welcome and Introduction

It is with much love and great joy in my heart that I welcome you to Saint Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral as we solemnly receive and place on exposition for veneration an official replica of the Shroud of Turin.

While there are thousands of photographic reproductions of the Shroud of Turin around the world readily made available through the internet, our copy is even more unique among the handful of reproductions that have been authorized by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Turin, Italy, the custodians of the original shroud.  It was made using the best photographic definition possible, and was authorized by the Archdiocesan Commission of the Shroud, which has verified the copy to original Shroud of Turin.

This authentic replica of the Shroud of Turin was gifted to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton by the Archdiocese of Turin as part of our 25 Year Pastoral Plan for Spiritual Growth and Renewal.  Truly a most precious gift!

During the two years from the time of the initial request to the Archdiocese of Turin for an official replica of the Shroud until today, I asked myself repeatedly, “Lord, if we are indeed blessed with a true copy of the Shroud of Turin, and open our doors wide to believers and non-believers alike, what will they come to see?”

And I ask that question of you today.   What have you come to see?

At first glance, we have come out of curiosity to see this thing we call the Shroud of Turin.

What is it?

The Shroud of Turin, a quick overview

The shroud is a rectangular linen sheet woven in a herringbone pattern according to an ancient Egyptian style used both before and after the time of Christ.

The cloth measures 442 cm (14’ 6”) long by 113 cm (3’ 9”) wide.

There is a faint impression on it of an image of a man, front and back, indicating that he suffered extensive scourging and death by crucifixion.  Piercing of the feet and wrist are clearly evident.  A chest wound and wounds to the head inflicted by pointed instruments are plainly visible.

The “man of the shroud” has a beard, moustache and shoulder length hair parted in the middle. He is well-proportioned, muscular, and quite tall.

The Burial Cloth of Jesus?

Is the Shroud of Turin the burial cloth of Jesus?

Scientific analysis of the Shroud of Turin was permitted by the Holy See in 1976, 1978 and 1988.  These conclude that the image is not the product of an artist using paints or dyes.  The shroud has been in direct contact with a body, which explains certain features such as scourge marks and blood.  But it cannot explain the image of the face with the high resolution demonstrated by photography.

How the image was produced remains a mystery.

While the Catholic Church has neither acknowledged nor denied the authenticity of the shroud, Pope John Paul II called it a “mirror of the Gospel.”  Recently, Pope Benedict and Pope Francis described the shroud as an “icon.”

Actual burial cloth or not, the shroud is indeed an ancient and greatly venerated icon.  And the essence of an icon is its representation of the Holy and participation in the Divine.

Picking up on Pope John Paul II’s reference to the shroud as a “mirror of the Gospel,” let us look more closely at the scriptural evidence for the shroud.

Scriptural Evidence for the Shroud, a Mirror of the Gospel

Jesus was scourged (Matthew 27: 26).  The body in the shroud is covered with severe scourge wounds, as many as 120 on the back (including the legs).  Whipping was done probably by a Roman flagrum, with evidence that there were two men whipping from two angles.

Jesus was struck a blow to the face (Matthew 27: 30).  In the shroud there is severe swelling below the right eye; the nose is swollen or broken.

Jesus was “crowned” with thorns (Matthew 27: 28-29). In the shroud there is evidence of bleeding from scalp, and thorn fragments.

Jesus had to carry a heavy cross (John 19: 16-17).  Shoulder wounds appear on the body in the shroud.

Jesus’ cross had to be carried for him after a while (Matthew 27: 32). The knees in the body in the shroud appear to be severely damaged as if from repeated falls.

Jesus was crucified by nailing hands and feet (John 20: 25). There are clear blood flows on the shroud from nail wounds in the wrists and feet.

Jesus’ legs were not broken, but a spear was thrust into his side (John 19: 33-37). The legs on the body in the shroud are not broken.  There is an elliptical wound on the rights side between the 5th and 6th ribs and appears to have been inflicted by a Roman lance.

Jesus was taken down from the cross and wrapped in a linen shroud (Matthew 27: 57-60). The image on the shroud is consistent with the Jewish burial practice of wrapping a dead body.

Come and See!   An invitation.

Let us return to the question with which we began.  Today, what have you really come to see?  Did you come to see this rectangular linen sheet with a faint impression on it of an image of a man?  Or something more?

Yes, something much more!

Our childlike curiosity has led us through the path of discovery to the journey of faith.

We have come today at the invitation of God, through this exposition of the Shroud of Turin, to meet the person of Jesus Christ. We have come to enter into a personal relationship with the One who takes upon himself our humanity and becomes one of us, so that we in turn might take upon ourselves his divinity and become one with God.  Imagine, a God that draws near to us so that we might draw near to him!

All of us who come to view the Shroud of Turin have our own life story.  Some are broken, some are confused, some are professed unbelievers, some need to have their faith affirmed, and some are seeking to follow the Lord more closely.

Read on: Come and See! by Bishop David Motiuk

And for more details see, If you will be in Edmonton During Lent