Lost Years of the Shroud

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.