In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy R. Powell interviews Italian researcher and author Marco Ginatta, born in Turin and dedicated to the study of the Holy Shroud for decades. Ginatta shares his deeply personal journey from scientist to theologian, inspired by his grandmother’s devotion to the Shroud.

He introduces his theory of the “double sentence with double penalty,” arguing that Jesus Christ was illegally condemned to both scourging and crucifixion—two punishments attested by the forensic marks on the Shroud of Turin. Ginatta and Powell discuss how the Shroud captures the transition between the material and immaterial—between body and Resurrection.

Listeners will also learn why the Shroud’s image can only be viewed from a distance, a phenomenon no artist could replicate. Ginatta explains why science must never separate from faith when studying the most sacred artifact of Christian history.

This conversation invites believers and skeptics alike to reflect on the intersection of physics, theology, and spiritual truth—revealing why the Shroud of Turin remains The Only Witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy R. Powell welcomes Alessandro Piana, one of Italy’s leading Shroud of Turin scholars. Together they investigate the mysterious “lost years” of the Shroud and expose recent media claims that question its authenticity.

Piana critically examines the Archeometry article that suggested the Shroud was a medieval bas-relief creation, pointing out scientific omissions such as blood evidence, linen composition, and pollen traces. He then dives into historical letters from Pope Innocent III and accounts from Robert de Clari to trace the Shroud’s path from Constantinople to Athens and finally to France.

Listeners will learn:

• Why the Pierre d’Arcis memorandum does not disprove the Shroud’s authenticity

• How crusader families and Templars may have protected the Shroud for 150 years

• What documents suggest about the Shroud’s presence in Athens in 1205

• How the Shroud bridges faith and history as evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

This episode unites theology, science, and forensic history—highlighting themes from The Only Witness, Guy Powell’s book on the Shroud of Turin.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy R. Powell speaks with Finnish researcher Teemu Hartikainen, founder and president of the Finnish Sindonology Society.

Hartikainen dives into one of the most debated documents in Shroud history: the 1389 memorandum by Bishop Pierre d’Arcis. Long cited as proof that the Shroud of Turin was a medieval forgery, Hartikainen explains why this claim doesn’t hold up.

Through detailed archival research, he reveals that the so-called “letter” is not a letter at all. Instead, it consists of two unfinished drafts dictated by the bishop. These drafts lack essential elements such as a date, signature, and polished Latin. Far from being official correspondence, they were likely internal notes, never intended for the Pope.

The episode also explores how later historians manipulated these drafts—adding a date stamp and altering translations—to make them appear as damning evidence against the Shroud. By mixing historical context with linguistic analysis, Hartikainen shows that these edits reshaped the meaning and fueled skepticism.

Beyond documents, the discussion uncovers the political and economic struggles of the time. With the Black Death devastating Europe and churches competing for pilgrims, the motivation behind d’Arcis’ complaints may have been financial survival rather than truth.

This thought-provoking conversation challenges long-standing assumptions and raises new questions about authenticity, faith, and history. Whether you approach the Shroud as evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ or as a historical puzzle, Hartikainen’s insights provide clarity.