OTHONIA, THE international organization responsible for sharing knowledge about the Shroud, is excited to partner with the Diocese of Orange to create “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience.”
Othonia is a part of the Science and Faith Institute of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum located in Rome, Italy. Othonia is the Greek word used in the Gospel of John to describe the grave clothes left behind in the tomb on that first Easter morning. John the Evangelist wrote that when he saw the empty othonia lying just where they had been placed on Friday evening, “he saw and believed” (Jn 20:8).
The first “Who Is the Man of the Shroud?” exhibit was developed by Othonia for the Pontifical Institute – Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center in 2006. Since then, the exhibit has helped people all over the world learn how the Shroud is a bridge between faith and science. The exhibit invites visitors to examine the Shroud and the Scriptures together to answer the question that Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” In 2024, Othonia completely updated the “Who Is the Man of the Shroud?” exhibit and debuted the new display at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Ind., to long lines and rave reviews. The focus of the updated exhibit is the Shroud as a “Mirror of the Gospels.” Study of the Shroud helps us more fully understand and appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Othonia is changing the conversation about the Shroud from being a “death cloth” reflecting only the suffering and death of Jesus – to seeing it as a sign of hope. The Shroud also documents the split second before Jesus opened His eyes in Resurrected life.
The Shroud is a wonderful tool for evangelization because it helps people connect the dots between the Old Testament prophecies about the promised Messiah and the New Testament accounts about Jesus. It is also a great way to capture the attention of people who think that science and faith are in conflict. As the most scientifically studied artifact in history, it intrigues scientists who try to understand and explain how the mysterious image was formed.
Despite the intense scientific scrutiny, the Shroud remains an enigma and a challenge to everyone who encounters it. The scientific study of the Shroud provides evidence that our faith is true. This new Immersive Experience will bring people to an encounter with Jesus by looking through the lens of the Shroud. Visitors will learn about the life of Jesus and how the Shroud documents His Passion, death, burial and Resurrection. They will also learn how Jesus remains with us today through the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This modern exhibit pairs beautifully with the soaring architecture of the Christ Cathedral campus and the state-of-the-art Cultural Center. This will be Othonia’s flagship exhibit — designed to introduce an entirely new audience to the Shroud in an engaging and memorable way, with the ultimate goal of making Jesus known through the Shroud.