What happened to the Shroud of Turin between the fourth century and its reappearance in medieval France?
In this enlightening episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, historian Guy R. Powell interviews Italian researcher Alessandro Piana, who brings fresh light to one of history’s greatest mysteries.
Piana begins by exposing critical flaws in a recent Archeometry study that claimed the Shroud was a medieval forgery made with a bas-relief. He explains why that experiment ignored vital evidence—blood chemistry, pollen traces, and textile analysis—that proves the cloth’s authenticity.
The conversation then turns to the so-called lost years of the Shroud. Drawing on letters from Pope Innocent III and eyewitness accounts from the Fourth Crusade, Piana traces the relic’s possible journey from Constantinople to Athens and finally to France. He explores the networks of crusader families, Templars, and nobles who may have protected the cloth until it re-emerged in Lirey in the 14th century.
Piana’s meticulous research connects historical documentation with faith, offering a powerful case that the Shroud of Turin truly witnessed the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Whether you approach the Shroud through faith or history, this episode offers insights that deepen understanding of The Only Witness—the 2,000-year story still unfolding.
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