In 1898, Secondo Pia was the first man to photograph the Shroud of Turin, the burial cloth believed to have covered Christ's body after the Crucifixion. Pia made a startling discovery: his photography plate revealed the detailed image of a man. The shroud had created a photographic negative of the face and body of Christ. This video examines skepticism over the shroud's authenticity, debunking scientists who recently claimed that it could not be more than 600 years old. Those who believe in its authenticity trace its origins to a much earlier date. On the Friday of the Crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus prepared the body of Jesus for burial in the garden tomb, first rubbing the body with aloe and myrrh, then wrapping it in the large burial shroud. On Sunday morning Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb and raced to tell the disciples. Peter and John rushed to the tomb and saw only the shroud lying on the stone slab. From that time the shroud began its long journey around the Mediterranean to Turin, Italy, where it has drawn millions of pilgrims for centuries. Even now, as a new millennium dawns scientists have found there is still much we don't know about this, the most celebrated and controversial artifact in the history of Christianity. If you are a cynic, this video will challenge your skepticism. If you already believe, it will strengthen your faith.
