Avash News: Coinciding with the beginning of the New Year, the exhibition “The Sacred Mystery: A Narrative of the Shroud of Turin” has opened at the Library Museum of the Niavaran Cultural–Historical Complex, with the aim of introducing one of the world’s most enigmatic and controversial religious and historical artifacts.
Based on an announcement by the Public Relations Office of the Niavaran Cultural–Historical Complex, the exhibition focuses on the Shroud of Turin—a linen cloth bearing a faint image of a human figure—and seeks to present a documented account of its historical background, religious significance, and the scientific research associated with it. This artifact has remained at the center of attention for historians, scientists, and religious thinkers for centuries.
At the opening ceremony, Shahroud Amir-Entekhabí, Director of the Niavaran Cultural–Historical Complex, referred to the institution’s research-oriented approach and stated that hosting “The Sacred Mystery” exhibition at the Niavaran Library Museum provides an opportunity to address one of the most significant yet complex subjects in the history of religions. He noted that the exhibition aims to familiarize audiences with the historical, cultural, and scientific dimensions of the Shroud of Turin through a documented and impartial perspective, and to create a platform for dialogue between science, faith, and history.
He added that the Niavaran Cultural–Historical Complex has consistently sought to draw on its scholarly, research, and cultural capacities to host exhibitions that, in addition to their visual appeal, offer educational and analytical content for researchers and the general public alike.
The exhibition traces the historical trajectory of the Shroud of Turin—from the early beliefs of Christians, through periods in which it remained hidden from history to its first documented appearance in the Middle Ages, its transfer among various European cities, the fire of 1532, and its eventual permanent residence in the city of Turin, Italy. Another section of the exhibition is devoted to examining scientific perspectives, including the results of imaging studies and laboratory tests conducted on the cloth—research that continues to be the subject of debate and investigation within the global scientific community.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the display of the valuable book La Sindone from the collection of the Niavaran Library Museum. Recognized as one of the authoritative scholarly sources on the Shroud of Turin, the book is presented alongside the exhibition’s content for public viewing.
The exhibition “The Sacred Mystery: A Narrative of the Shroud of Turin” is being held from January 1 to January 20, 2026 (11–30 Dey 1404) at the Library Museum of the Niavaran Cultural–Historical Complex.
