Holy Angels Parish • In Partnership with Othonia

“Who Is the Man in the Shroud?”

A Special Presentation on The Shroud of Turin

Monday, March 2, 2026 • 6:30 PM • Holy Angels Church

Holy Angels Parish, in partnership with Othonia, invites you to a special evening exploring one of the most studied and mysterious relics in Christian history—the Shroud of Turin—at the intersection of faith, science, and the Gospel.

The presentation will be led by Nora Creech, renowned Shroud scholar and Liaison to Othonia, the international apostolate dedicated to Shroud education and research. A student of the Shroud since the 1970s, Nora is an experienced lecturer on its history, scientific study, and pastoral meaning, helping audiences explore the Shroud’s connection to the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.

She holds a Master of Arts in Faith and Culture from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and completed the postgraduate Shroud Studies program at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome. Nora also develops and installs Othonia’s acclaimed exhibit, “Who Is the Man of the Shroud?”, throughout the United States and around the world.

The evening will include a lecture by Nora Creech, life-sized replicas of the Shroud, displays of the instruments of the Passion, and a question-and-answer session. This presentation is designed for believers and seekers alike—anyone interested in examining the evidence, the mystery, and the Gospel witness revealed through the Shroud of Turin.

Presented by Nora Creech

Holy Angels Parish warmly invites you to an evening exploring The Shroud of Turin. The study of the Shroud lies at the intersection of faith and science, offering believers and skeptics alike the opportunity to explore, question, and reflect on the mysterious image of a man bearing the wounds described in the Gospel accounts of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.

The evening will include a lecture, full-size replicas of the Shroud, replicas of the weapons of the Passion, and a question-and-answer session.

“When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.”

— John 20:6–8

What Is the Shroud of Turin?

The Shroud of Turin, housed since 1578 in the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Turin, Italy, is a controversial linen cloth made from flax, measuring approximately 14 feet by 3.5 feet. It bears a faint image of the front and back of a naked man, along with bloodstains consistent with the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the Gospel of John.

Different cultures have used burial shrouds for thousands of years. In a Jewish burial, the body is usually washed before wrapping. However, in the event of violent death with significant blood loss, the body is simply wrapped in a large cloth called a sovev — meaning "to surround." In the case of the Shroud of Turin, everything correlates with the burial of a man who died a violent death, consistent with the biblical account of Joseph of Arimathea, described as "a rich man," who purchased the cloth.

Reference: Understanding the Shroud of Turin by Russ Breault | The Shroud of Jesus by Dr. Gilbert Lavoie

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus… They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom…”

— John 19:38–42

A History of the Shroud

While the Shroud is first clearly documented in 14th‑century France, history preserves numerous accounts of sacred cloths associated with Christ long before that time. The question is not whether the Shroud appeared suddenly, but whether it may have traveled quietly through history — revered, protected, and sometimes hidden — before emerging into public view.

Reference: Possible Post-Biblical and Pre-1350s References in History to the Shroud of Jesus by Joseph "Joe" Marino.

When the World Has Seen the Shroud — A Timeline

1804 & 1815

A Pope Holds the Shroud Himself

Pope Pius VII presided over two extraordinary expositions during the Napoleonic era. In 1815, after Napoleon's defeat, he personally held the Shroud from the balcony of Palazzo Madama — an event never repeated in history.

1998

A Saint Before the Shroud

St. John Paul II visited, prayed, and venerated the Shroud, describing it as a “mirror of the Gospel.”

2000

The Great Jubilee Exposition

During the Jubilee Year, the Shroud was displayed for more than two months, drawing millions of pilgrims from around the world.

2010

Faith and Reflection

Pope Benedict XVI visited and offered a profound meditation on the mystery of the Shroud, reflecting on suffering, hope, and the Resurrection.

2013

Seen Only Through the Screen

Benedict XVI authorized a television-only exposition. Pope Francis offered a message the same day, reminding viewers that the Shroud speaks quietly but powerfully to the heart.

2015

Pope Francis in Turin

Pope Francis visited the Shroud and spoke of it as an icon of love, suffering, and mercy.

2020

A Sign of Hope During the Pandemic

The Shroud was shown through a special livestreamed exposition. Millions joined spiritually from their homes, encouraged by Pope Francis.

Why Is Seeing the Shroud So Rare?

The Shroud of Turin is not on permanent display. It is carefully preserved and shown only on exceptional occasions — often decades apart — due to its fragility, historical importance, and spiritual significance. Each exposition is considered a moment of grace, inviting believers and seekers alike to pause, reflect, and encounter the mystery of Christ's Passion.

“Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

— John 20:27