Mysterious relic makes appearance at TWU
The Shroud of Turin continues to attract debate and awe
February 20, 2008
Melissa Kuenzi
In the medieval Christian tradition, relics of Christ, apostles and saints were cherished. Pilgrims made long journeys to get a glimpse of something so much as touched by a saint. Relics were often believed to have the power to work miracles.
In modern evangelical Christianity, the concept of a powerful relic is foreign. Yet Trinity Western University students will soon have a chance to encounter a replica of possibly the most famous relic of all – the Shroud of Turin.
The original Shroud is a linen cloth with the imprint of a crucified man on it, discovered in the 1800s by a photographer. Soon, the Shroud was believed to have been the cloth covering Christ after his crucifixion.
The Shroud has been a source of intense scientific and theological debate ever since. Whether it is a genuine historical relic or simply a religious hoax from the Middle Ages is the question. Numerous websites promote both views, and while one 1980s radiocarbon test dated the Shroud back to the medieval period, later evidence contradicts this.
The Shroud is now kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. A 14-foot replica of the Shroud, along with several other replicas of Roman crucifixions, will be brought to the TWU campus, with the co-sponsorship of Redeemer Pacific College, on March 10-14 by the Vancouver Shroud Association. The exhibit will be presented for free in the Atrium from 9 AM to 9 PM. Lectures from three different scholars will be presented throughout the Shroud’s stay at TWU.
Professor Phillip Wiebe, one of the founders of the Shroud Association, contends in an article on TWU’s website that the actual authenticity of the Shroud was not as important as its spiritual significance. The Shroud of Turin has drawn thousands of believers and spiritual seekers since it was put on display in Italy, and the controversy surrounding its authenticity serves to heighten the importance of the other questions the Shroud raises about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The power of relics to inspire and intrigue seems to still exist.
Please e-mail Dr. Phillip Wiebe for more information.
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