In search of sources for the history of Jesus' shroud. Exploring the literature of Christian antiquity and the Middle Ages

Abstract

In syndonological studies focused on the Turin Shroud, studies on its history are also undertaken. It is generally accepted that the period is documented from the mid-fourteenth century, when the shroud was in French Lirey near Troyes. His earlier fate is highly hypothetical or even unknown. In this article an attempt will be made to trace literary sources in which the topos of Jesus' shroud and his image in general in Christian antiquity appear, and to link them to the canvas currently in the Turin cathedral. Four groups of sources became the subject of research: (1) canonical gospels adopted by the Church and patristic comments to them, (2) Christian apocryphal literature of the ancient and medieval times, taking the topos of the shroud and (3) the image of Jesus, (4) as well as early itineraries Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land (the homeland of Jesus and the apostles), in which the shroud is mentioned, as well as auxiliary artifacts selected with the messages contained in these sources.