Seek the face of Jesus
ELKIN — If you’ve ever wanted to view the Shroud of Turin – a burial cloth featuring the emblazoned image of a crucified man that many believe to be Jesus Christ – the “Man of the Shroud” exhibit coming to the Yadkin Valley Heritage & Trails Visitor Center Aug. 14-21 is a must-see.
Free and open to the public, the “Man of the Shroud” exhibit presents the results of a comprehensive scientific, historical and forensic study of the famed shroud, the most scientifically studied and debated religious icon in history.
The Catholic Church does not formally endorse or reject the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, but Pope Francis has called it an “icon of a man scourged and crucified.”
The “Man of the Shroud” exhibit coming to Elkin is the work of scientists and others who have spent decades investigating the Shroud of Turin, including Monsignor Giulio Ricci, one of the world’s leading experts in “sindonology” (study of the shroud, from “sindone,” the Italian word for “shroud”).
The exhibit’s centerpiece is a full-length replica of a photographic image of the burial cloth – measuring 14 feet long by 3 inches wide – made by Eastman Kodak Co. It shows the front and back of the burial cloth, the original of which is enshrined in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. In addition, the exhibit includes a large, crucified corpus with the wounds of Christ corresponding to the Passion narrative in the Gospels and the wounds shown on the Shroud of Turin.
In total, the exhibit contains 66 panels detailing the history and science of the shroud.
The “Man of the Shroud” exhibit is on loan from the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown, a Chicago-area pilgrimage site run by the Conventual Franciscan Friars. Its exhibit in Elkin is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 11605, St. Stephen Mission in Elkin, and Ebenezer and Maple Springs United Methodist churches.
The Yadkin Valley Heritage & Trails Visitor Center is located at 257 Standard St. in downtown Elkin.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter. www.kolbeshrine.org contributed.
Plan your visit
The “Man of the Shroud” exhibit is free, but visitors are encouraged to register to see the exhibit at www.shroudinelkinnc.org to prevent excessive wait times.