More Publicity for Royal Oak Exhibition of the Shroud of Turin

The Royal Oak (Detroit Suburb) exhibition of the Shroud is getting more and more excellent news coverage. A story is thumbnailed this morning on the online front page of the Detroit News. The Detroit News, a Gannett paper, is Detroit’s second largest print paper. “The News website is the 10th most-read newspaper website in the United States,” according to Wikipedia.

Headline: Exhibit of Shroud of Turin at Royal Oak church provokes strong emotions

. . . The exhibit has filled an estimated 6,000 square feet of space at St. John’s on Rochester Road since last month.

Inside, visitors are audio-guided through a tour presenting artifacts associated with the shroud, its history and impact, including ancient coins, a Roman spear wielded in the first century and a sizable painting of Christ on cotton shown in Lisbon, Portugal, for more than 200 years.

The exhibit also features a reconstructed version of Jesus’ tomb based on archaeological studies; forensic analysis on the Holy Sudarium of Oviedo, the cloth Christians believe covered Christ’s face after death; as well as replicas of the original shroud — threads of which are included in a reliquary Pope Clement XII sealed in 1730.

[ . . . ]

The Rev. John Hice, senior pastor at Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, said he found the exhibit “engaging. … I believe it was respectfully presented and it was done in such a way as to invite conversation and reflection.”

The exhibit originated in Spain in 2011. Garrigo, a Spanish native, visited the exhibit there and decided to bring a display to Metro Detroit, where he has lived since 1988.

Thumbnail of exhibit:  Jose Garrigo talks about some of the items on display as he walks through the darkened rooms of the Shroud of Turin exhibit at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Royal Oak. The exhibition runs through Aug. 17. (Photos by Brandy Baker / The Detroit News)