Turkish police seize 1,000-year-old Bible that includes pictures of Jesus

From an article in the International Business Times:

"Turkish police have seized a 1,000-year-old gilded Bible in the northern province of Tokat. The authorities had been tipped off that three criminals were harbouring historic artefacts with the intention to sell them.


"The Bible was tattered and worn down but still in relatively good condition, considering its age. It measures 21cm x 16cm and consists of 51 sheets, or 102 pages. It included religious images, including one that looks like Jesus Christ, written in Syriac and made of gold leafs."

The picture is reminiscent of the Mandylion.

Shroud Of Turin DNA Indicates Global Origins

Genetic material suggests the shroud may have been created in India.

There's a surprising new wrinkle in the story of the celebrated Shroud of Turin.

A group of Italian researchers have found that the 14-foot-long garment -- believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, even though science has proven that's not the case -- contains DNA from plants found all over Earth.

"Here we report the main findings from the analysis of genomic DNA extracted from dust particles vacuumed from parts of the body image and the lateral edge used for radiocarbon dating," Dr. Gianni Barcaccia, a plant genetics and genomics professor at the University of Padova in Italy, wrote in a paper co-authored with his colleagues about the DNA results.

After sequencing the DNA of pollen and dust found on the shroud, the researchers discovered several plant groups native to the Mediterranean, RealClearScience.com reported. Other groups were linked to Asia, the Middle East, or the Americas, but must have been introduced at a time later than the Medieval period, according to the researchers.

Read the entire article: Huffington Post.

Turin Shroud 'is not a medieval forgery'

Many Catholics believe that the 14ft-long linen cloth was used to cover Christ's body when he was lifted down from the cross after being crucified. Photo: EPA

The Turin Shroud is not a medieval forgery, as has long been claimed, but could in fact date from the time of Christ's death, a new book claims. 

By Nick Squires, Rome correspondent 
10:24AM GMT 28 Mar 2013

Experiments conducted by scientists at the University of Padua in northern Italy have dated the shroud to ancient times, a few centuries before and after the life of Christ.

Many Catholics believe that the 14ft-long linen cloth, which bears the imprint of the face and body of a bearded man, was used to bury Christ's body when he was lifted down from the cross after being crucified 2,000 years ago. 

The analysis is published in a new book, "Il Mistero della Sindone" or The Mystery of the Shroud, by Giulio Fanti, a professor of mechanical and thermal measurement at Padua University, and Saverio Gaeta, a journalist. [Read more]

Pope Benedict says Shroud of Turin authentic burial robe of Jesus

Nick Squires has this report at the CSMonitor.com.

Shroud of Turin 'mirrors' human suffering: pope

by Gina Doggett

TURIN, Italy (AFP) – Throngs of pilgrims filled Turin's Piazza San
Carlo on Sunday as Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass before visiting the Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ.

"The Holy Shroud eloquently reminds us always" of Jesus' suffering, the pope said in his homily of one of the most revered objects in Christendom and also one of the most disputed.

The mysterious linen, which shows a man's body and face many believe to be of Jesus, "mirrors our suffering in the suffering of Christ," said the pontiff near the cathedral housing the shroud.

For the rest of the article: Shroud of Turin 'mirrors' human suffering: pope

See also: Pope Benedict views Turin Shroud

Shroud of Turin Goes on Display

Image courtesy of REUTERS/ Giorgio Perottino.

Play slideshow. Gallery.

See also:

Diana Magnay, "Shroud of Turin on display for first time since 2002 restoration," CNN.com (11 Apr 2010).

Frances D'Emilio and Francesco Manetti, "Public to get look at Shroud of Turin," MSNBC.com (9 Apr 2010).

"Turin Shroud goes on display for first time in 10 years," BBC News (10 Apr 2010).

The Real Face of Jesus?

The History Channel had an interesting documentary last night where computer graphics artists created a 3D model of the face from the Shroud of Turin.


Closeup of the face on the Shroud of Turin. Click for more History Channel photos.

Included on their website were articles About the "Real Face of Jesus," the Shroud of Turin, and the technology involved.