In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy Powell speaks with leading Shroud researcher and lecturer Russ Breault. Drawing from years of investigation, Breault offers remarkable insights into why the Shroud may serve as a visual extension of the Gospel and how it can deepen our understanding of the suffering and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Breault explains how Scripture provides a forensic blueprint of Jesus’ wounds. Yet the Gospels give very few details about His physical suffering. He argues that the Shroud fills these gaps by presenting a “gospel written on linen.” This makes the Shroud an invaluable artifact for understanding both history and theology.

The conversation explores early Christian persecution, secrecy surrounding relics, and the possible reason no Gospel mentions a burial cloth with an image. Breault also discusses Peter’s “sheet vision” in Acts 10 as a symbolic reference that may parallel the Shroud.

Another key topic is the biblical requirement for multiple witnesses. Breault describes how the empty tomb, the Shroud, and the Sudarium form three powerful testimonies pointing to the Resurrection.

Listeners will appreciate the blend of faith, history, and scientific reasoning. Breault shares why the Shroud continues to inspire researchers, believers, and scholars worldwide.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy R. Powell speaks with historian Massimo Paris for the third session of a remarkable deep dive into the archaeology of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ.

Massimo explains how Constantine and Helena identified the site of the Crucifixion and Resurrection through excavation in the 4th century. He describes the removal of Hadrian’s pagan temple, the discovery of Calvary, and the revealing of the burial cave. He also gives an in-depth overview of Constantine’s massive architectural project, which included the rotunda, basilica, courtyard, and the original edicule.

Listeners learn how archaeological evidence—wooden models, mosaics, ancient maps, and written accountsmatches the descriptions in the Gospels. Massimo shows how the angle of the burial bench, uncovered again in 2016, confirms its authenticity. This is the limestone slab where Jesus Christ was laid, wrapped in the Shroud of Turin.

He also describes the fracture in the rock of Calvary caused by the earthquake at the moment of Jesus’ death—visible today both above and within the chapel structure.

This episode brings together Scripture, archaeology, and history in a way that illuminates the central event of Christianity: the Resurrection.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy R. Powell continues his discussion with Massimo Paris, researcher of medicine, archaeology, languages, and ancient Jerusalem. Paris offers a compelling walkthrough of the geography surrounding Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus Christ, using detailed reconstructions and archaeological evidence to illuminate the historical landscape.

Drawing from Josephus, the Gospels, and modern excavations, Paris explains how an ancient quarry became the location of Calvary on its eastern rise and the tomb on its western edge. He describes the Garden Gate, the first and second city walls, and how these features match biblical accounts stating Jesus suffered outside the gate.

Paris also examines the structure of first-century tombs. Citing studies of more than 900 burial caves, he notes that nearly all used square blocking stones, not round ones—clarifying a widespread misconception. He explains how the tomb’s single burial chamber and stone bench align precisely with early pilgrim reports and with Scripture describing the linen cloths and the encounter with angels.

The conversation also explores how sunlight could enter the tomb’s east-facing doorway, allowing the disciples to see inside. These insights provide a richer understanding of the setting of the Resurrection and support themes from The Only Witness.

This episode deepens the connection between archaeology, history, and faith and offers a clearer view of the world in which the Shroud of Turin emerged.