The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth, venerated as the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, with a documented history dating back to the 14th century and a complex custodial and scientific record.
The Shroud of Turin first enters the historical record in 1354 when it was exhibited in the collegiate church of Lirey, France, founded by Geoffroi de Charny. Shortly after, in 1389, Bishop Pierre d’Arcis denounced it as a forgery, claiming it had been “cunningly painted,” and Pope Clement VII issued a bull regulating its display, instructing that it be described as a representation rather than the true burial cloth. Despite these early controversies, the shroud gained veneration among the faithful.
In 1453, the shroud was transferred to the House of Savoy, who moved it to a chapel in Chambéry, France. A fire in 1532 damaged the cloth, leaving burn holes and scorch marks, which were later repaired by Poor Clare nuns with patches and a backing cloth. In 1578, the Savoy family relocated the shroud to Turin, Italy, where it has remained ever since, housed in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Since 1683, it has been kept in the specially designed Chapel of the Holy Shroud, connected to the royal palace and cathedral. Ownership passed to the Catholic Church in 1983 after the death of King Umberto II of Italy. The Shroud of Turin has been exensively photographed since 1898.
The Shroud of Turin was photographed by Secundo Pia, a photographer, for the first time in 1898, capturing both the front and back images, blood marks, and historical damage in detail. This was the first display of the images that has generated major research efforts ever since.