Museum of the Bible

Museum of the Bible (MuseumoftheBible.org) invites all people to engage with the Bible. Dedicated to the history, narrative and impact of the Bible, the museum, located at 400 4th St. SW,  opened in November 2017 three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

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Museum of the Bible exhibit explores mystery of the Shroud of Turin

Feb. 10, 2022

WASHINGTON — On February 26, Museum of the Bible will open its newest exhibit, Mystery and Faith: The Shroud of Turin, exploring the complex history behind the enduring mystery of the Shroud. Few artifacts in the world have stirred imagination, provoked controversy, raised hypotheses — and for some, fortified faith — like the Shroud of Turin.

“Throughout this high-tech, interactive exhibit, visitors will explore how this cloth connects to the Gospels and has become one of the most immediately recognizable images of any figure from the Bible,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, chief curatorial officer at Museum of the Bible. “Though the Shroud itself does not leave Turin, it has been featured on magazine covers, in documentaries, and even in Hollywood films. This exhibition explores the fascination and faith inspired by this cloth.”

In Mystery and Faith: The Shroud of Turin, all guests, including blind and low-vision visitors, can experience the first interactive, tactile display of a religious icon, using touch and sound to explore the Shroud. Also on exhibit is a full-sized replica of the Shroud of Turin created by Lino Val Gandino in Bergamo, Italy, and donated to the museum by Enrico Simonato, secretary of the Centro Internazionale Studi sulla Sindone in Turin.

“Two papal quotes frame the exhibition, which reveals how the Shroud mirrors the Gospels,” said Brian Hyland, curator of medieval manuscripts at Museum of the Bible. “Pope John Paul II called the Shroud a mirror of the Gospel and Pope Benedict XVI called it an icon, suggesting that it is best viewed with the eyes of faith.”

The exhibition traces the known history of the Shroud of Turin from its first documented appearance in 14th-century France and examines the hypothetical journey it made over the centuries from Judea to France. Touch-screen timelines will help guests understand the Shroud’s movement through time. An interactive animation will allow visitors to turn the pages of a book to see and hear the strange story of the Shroud’s first documented appearance in France.

Mystery and Faith: The Shroud of Turin examines scientific studies of the Shroud, beginning with the first photographs in 1898, and the theory behind radiocarbon dating. A selfie station invites guests to explore the concept of positive and negative images by taking their own photos.

A preview event will take place on February 23. Guests will have the opportunity to preview the exhibition and hear Dr. Andrew Casper, associate professor of art history at Miami University, Ohio, present: “An Artful Relic: The Shroud of Turin.”

The exhibition opening on February 26 will include a special event featuring Shroud experts Russ Breault, Fr. Robert Spitzer, Dr. Cheryl White and Dr. Barrie Schwortz. They will present the latest scientific evidence and in-depth information about this intriguing artifact. VIP ticket holders will have access to a special reception with the speakers from 4 to 5 p.m.

Visitors can explore the Mystery and Faith: The Shroud of Turin exhibit on the museum’s fifth floor from February 26 to July 31.

More information on Museum of the Bible is available here.