A copy of the Shroud of Turin has been delivered to the South Ossetian capital, with the assistance of the Public Fund "Revival of Orthodoxy in South Ossetia," the Missionary Department of Vladikavkaz and the Alan Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to a member of the Foundation Board "Rebirth of Orthodoxy in South Ossetia" Sava Gagloev, along with the shroud were also brought the relics of the great Christian ascetics of the fourth century, a warrior St.Theodore Stratelates.
" In 2000, the anniversary year in Turin was made several replicas of the Shroud of Turin - said Gagloev. – The copies were consecrated on the original, so that believers all over the world had the opportunity to honor the saint, because not everyone had the opportunity to come to Turin and see firsthand the true original - the tissue in which it was wrapped the body of Christ the Savior after removal from the cross."
Today in front of the shrine will be served a Divine Liturgy, after which the Shroud will be sent to Italy.
During the event was shown a documentary about the research conducted around the Shroud.
For several centuries in the Cathedral of the Italian city of Turin is kept large linen cloth, on its yellowish- white background are blurry brown spots. From a distance one can see clear outlines of a human figure and a man's face with a beard and long hair. The legend says that this is the Shroud of Jesus Christ. It burned three times and miraculously survived. In the middle ages it was repeatedly boiled in oil, washed to clean the soot and for being convinced of its holiness, but the image remained unimpaired.
In 1889, the Shroud was first photographed. And what a surprise it was for the photographer Secondo Pia, when on the glass of the negative was developed a striking image of Christ after the crucifixion removed from the cross. Amazing face, full of peace and transcendent greatness, though with signs of severe suffering: a high forehead with visible trickles of blood, on his hands and feet marks of the nails; bruises on his body.
Since that time has started the research phase of the study of the Shroud. It was subjected to radiocarbon analysis; experts from around the world have participated in its studying. The shroud has truly become for thousands of modern scientists as the "fifth gospel," the gospel of suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But they all agree on one thing - the Shroud is authentic and the picture on it is not the work of man.
The Shroud shows not only the crucifixion of Jesus, but also His resurrection. In a sealed cave he had just a shroud, so only it witnessed the resurrection of the Lord.
In the Jubilee years (every 25 years) in the Turin Cathedral of St. John the Baptist the Shroud for several days is available for public worship (the rest of time it is kept in a special chapel inside the cathedral in an armored ark). In 2000, the Jubilee of the birth of Christ was made a limited number of copies of the Holy Shroud, consecrated on the original.
