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.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy Powell interviews long-time researcher and lecturer Massimo Paris, who has spent more than 30 years studying the archeology of ancient Jerusalem and its direct connection to the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Massimo explains how the remains of a massive stone quarry excavated by Father Virgilio Corbo and his team between 1970 and 1980 reveal the real geographical setting behind Calvary and the Tomb.

The eastern edge of this quarry contains the rocky outcrop of Golgotha, while its western edge holds a first-century arcosolium tomb that aligns perfectly with the Gospel description of Jesus Christ’s burial and Resurrection.

He breaks down the three types of first-century tombs, showing why only a niche tomb with a carved stone bench matches the Biblical account and the description of the two angels seen by Mary Magdalene.

Massimo also explains how the quarry floor became a cultivated garden, why the city walls matter, and how these findings support the narrative found in The Only Witness and the historical context of the Shroud of Turin.

This episode blends archeology, theology, and history to reveal a compelling case for the authentic locations tied to the crucifixion, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy Powell interviews Olivier Bonnassies, co-author of God, the Science, and the Evidence, a groundbreaking book that explores the rational and scientific reasons for believing in God.

Olivier discusses how scientific discoveries—such as the Big Bang, the fine-tuning of the universe, and the laws of thermodynamics—support the existence of a Creator.

Olivier shares his personal transformation from skepticism to belief, emphasizing the rational evidence that points to God. He explains that modern science, rather than negating the existence of God, actually confirms His existence through the remarkable order and fine-tuning in the universe.

From the beginning of time to the precise calibration of forces within the cosmos, these discoveries align with ancient theological insights about a Creator who is transcendent and outside of time and space.

Olivier discusses how the Shroud of Turin fits into this broader conversation about the evidence for God, offering a powerful symbol of Christ’s Resurrection. The conversation also delves into the philosophical and moral implications of a world that either has a Creator or exists by random chance.

Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, this episode offers an enlightening perspective on how science and faith can coexist.

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.