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Witnesses to Mystery
Témoins du mystère. Enquête sur les reliques du Christ.
Gorny et Rosikon ont consulté de nombreux historiens et scientifiques pour tenter de répondre à la question de l'authenticité des reliques présentées dans ce livre. Les conclusions auxquelles ils sont arrivées ne sont pas un acte de foi mais le fruit de recherches approfondies basées sur des documents historiques et des avis d'experts.
Les reliques liées à la Passion (les souffrances, la mort et l'ensevelissement du Christ) représentent depuis longtemps des énigmes pour la communauté scientifique ; parmi les reliques étudiées et photographiées dans ce livre figurent la croix, la couronne d'épines, la colonne de flagellation, la tunique du Christ, le voile de Manoppello, le suaire d'Oviedo, le très célèbre Saint-Suaire de Turin et d'autres reliques encore.
Les reliques liées à la Passion (les souffrances, la mort et l'ensevelissement du Christ) représentent depuis longtemps des énigmes pour la communauté scientifique ; parmi les reliques étudiées et photographiées dans ce livre figurent la croix, la couronne d'épines, la colonne de flagellation, la tunique du Christ, le voile de Manoppello, le suaire d'Oviedo, le très célèbre Saint-Suaire de Turin et d'autres reliques encore.
335 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2013
6 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Grzegorz Górny
34 books15 followersReporter, essayist, publicist, film, and television producer, Grzegorz Górny
Is a journalism graduate from Warsaw University.
The founder and editor-in-chief of the quarterly Fronda (between 1994 and 2005 and from 2007 onwards), from 1994 to 2001 he co-authored a television programme under the same title, aired on the Polish national television station TVP which ran for a total of 150 episodes Grzegorz has produced various documentary television series, including Archive of the 20th century (for TV Puls), The Other Bottom of History (for TVP Historia), Savage Poland (for TVP Polonia), and 2009’s War of the Worlds (for TVP 2 and TVP 1), for which he was also screenwriter and director.
Between 2005 and 2006 he was editor-in-chief of the weekly Ozon. He has authored publications, including 1991’s collection of essays entitled Culprits with Witold Paski and Wojciech Tochman; The Lexicon of literary Noble Prize winners (1993); a collection of essays entitled The Demon of the Afternoon; the album Faith:. Following the Footsteps of Sister Fasustyna (2010; with Janusz Rosikon), a book of journalistic writing entitled Battle for Madrid (2010; with Tomasz Terlikowski). He conducted a series of interviews with Rev. Waldemar Chrostowski, PHD (along with Rafał Tichy) entitled Bóg, Biblia, Mesjasz (God, the Bible, the Messiah) and Kościół, Żydzi, Polska (The Church, Jews, Poles). He's had many articles published in newspapers such as Rzeczpospolita, Życiu Warszawy ( he was their in-house correspondent in the Ukraine 1992/1993), Wprost, Nowym Państwie, Znaku, Christianitas, Teologii Politycznej, the Austrian Der Standard, the Hungarian Heti Valasz, the Ukrainian Post Postup and many more.
Source (31st August 2014):
http://en.rosikonpress.com/autor_24/G...
Is a journalism graduate from Warsaw University.
The founder and editor-in-chief of the quarterly Fronda (between 1994 and 2005 and from 2007 onwards), from 1994 to 2001 he co-authored a television programme under the same title, aired on the Polish national television station TVP which ran for a total of 150 episodes Grzegorz has produced various documentary television series, including Archive of the 20th century (for TV Puls), The Other Bottom of History (for TVP Historia), Savage Poland (for TVP Polonia), and 2009’s War of the Worlds (for TVP 2 and TVP 1), for which he was also screenwriter and director.
Between 2005 and 2006 he was editor-in-chief of the weekly Ozon. He has authored publications, including 1991’s collection of essays entitled Culprits with Witold Paski and Wojciech Tochman; The Lexicon of literary Noble Prize winners (1993); a collection of essays entitled The Demon of the Afternoon; the album Faith:. Following the Footsteps of Sister Fasustyna (2010; with Janusz Rosikon), a book of journalistic writing entitled Battle for Madrid (2010; with Tomasz Terlikowski). He conducted a series of interviews with Rev. Waldemar Chrostowski, PHD (along with Rafał Tichy) entitled Bóg, Biblia, Mesjasz (God, the Bible, the Messiah) and Kościół, Żydzi, Polska (The Church, Jews, Poles). He's had many articles published in newspapers such as Rzeczpospolita, Życiu Warszawy ( he was their in-house correspondent in the Ukraine 1992/1993), Wprost, Nowym Państwie, Znaku, Christianitas, Teologii Politycznej, the Austrian Der Standard, the Hungarian Heti Valasz, the Ukrainian Post Postup and many more.
Source (31st August 2014):
http://en.rosikonpress.com/autor_24/G...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 17, 2019
Do you believe in miracles? I didn't either until I read this book.
In the late 300's when the Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian he sent his mother St. Helena to Jerusalem to find any relics that might still exist. Although the Jews had been dispersed from Palestine by this time the Jewish converts to Christianity had not been expelled as they hadn't rebelled against Rome.
Since Jesus had even warned the early Christians of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and what signs to look for the early Christians had escaped to Jordan when that time arrived taking many remaining relics of Jesus with them.
Now that Christianity was the official religion of Rome the Christians were delighted to escort St. Helena to all the sites that played a part in Jesus's trial and crucifixion. They also brought many relics out of hiding which she brought back with her to Constantinople. The author systematically reviews these articles and in a scientific manner analyzes them with the help of experts to see if these relics are genuine.
When Helena returned to Constantinople with the relics Constantine built a basilica in which to store them where they safely resided until the First Crusade in the 1100's.
For complicated reasons that I won't even go into the Crusaders pillaged and sacked Constantinople and apparently brought the official relics back home with them. This is probably when the Knight's Templar came into possession of the Shroud of Turin.
With modern day instruments the Shroud is exhaustively analyzed, even to the point of studying the blood patterns that reveal what injuries were present at the time of Jesus's death. The injuries reveal the blood pattern of the scourging as well as the lacerations from the crown of thorns.
The author does a wonderful job of objectively studying the relics in order to determine what relics are genuine and which are fakes. I found the story of the relics and their many journeys to be fascinating reading and couldn't put it down. This book would make a great Christmas present.
*Edit to add*
The story behind the spear of Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Christ with his spear is especially touching. Longinus had long suffered from some sort of eye disease which was miraculously healed when the blood of Christ spattered onto them after Christ's side was pierced.
Longinus became a Christian convert and was able to obtain the true cross upon which Christ was crucified which has been judged to be authentic, along with his spear after much testing.
In the late 300's when the Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian he sent his mother St. Helena to Jerusalem to find any relics that might still exist. Although the Jews had been dispersed from Palestine by this time the Jewish converts to Christianity had not been expelled as they hadn't rebelled against Rome.
Since Jesus had even warned the early Christians of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and what signs to look for the early Christians had escaped to Jordan when that time arrived taking many remaining relics of Jesus with them.
Now that Christianity was the official religion of Rome the Christians were delighted to escort St. Helena to all the sites that played a part in Jesus's trial and crucifixion. They also brought many relics out of hiding which she brought back with her to Constantinople. The author systematically reviews these articles and in a scientific manner analyzes them with the help of experts to see if these relics are genuine.
When Helena returned to Constantinople with the relics Constantine built a basilica in which to store them where they safely resided until the First Crusade in the 1100's.
For complicated reasons that I won't even go into the Crusaders pillaged and sacked Constantinople and apparently brought the official relics back home with them. This is probably when the Knight's Templar came into possession of the Shroud of Turin.
With modern day instruments the Shroud is exhaustively analyzed, even to the point of studying the blood patterns that reveal what injuries were present at the time of Jesus's death. The injuries reveal the blood pattern of the scourging as well as the lacerations from the crown of thorns.
The author does a wonderful job of objectively studying the relics in order to determine what relics are genuine and which are fakes. I found the story of the relics and their many journeys to be fascinating reading and couldn't put it down. This book would make a great Christmas present.
*Edit to add*
The story behind the spear of Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Christ with his spear is especially touching. Longinus had long suffered from some sort of eye disease which was miraculously healed when the blood of Christ spattered onto them after Christ's side was pierced.
Longinus became a Christian convert and was able to obtain the true cross upon which Christ was crucified which has been judged to be authentic, along with his spear after much testing.
July 29, 2017
Since I'm not Catholic, I'm not supposed to be interested in holy relics. Well, too bad Martin Luther, because these objects are fascinating!
Okay, so maybe they're fascinating on multiple levels, both religious - seriously, could this have belonged to Jesus?! - and historical - seriously, this object has survived for nearly 2,000 years?!
This book is certainly a work of heart. The author spent hours and days and weeks and months and it shows. The photographs are beautiful, the text and side texts are well-written, and I was left wanting to see them in person for myself. Clearly ample amounts of research went into each object, in order to determine how it might have gone from Christ's burial place to whichever far-flung corner of Europe that now claims it.
No matter what testing is done in our lifetime, we may likely never know for sure of these items are authentic, but the author gives proof for his beliefs, acknowledging when necessary it's utterly inconclusive. I highly recommend this one.
Okay, so maybe they're fascinating on multiple levels, both religious - seriously, could this have belonged to Jesus?! - and historical - seriously, this object has survived for nearly 2,000 years?!
This book is certainly a work of heart. The author spent hours and days and weeks and months and it shows. The photographs are beautiful, the text and side texts are well-written, and I was left wanting to see them in person for myself. Clearly ample amounts of research went into each object, in order to determine how it might have gone from Christ's burial place to whichever far-flung corner of Europe that now claims it.
No matter what testing is done in our lifetime, we may likely never know for sure of these items are authentic, but the author gives proof for his beliefs, acknowledging when necessary it's utterly inconclusive. I highly recommend this one.
January 1, 2018
Fantástico libro.... un verdadero lujo leerlo...
January 3, 2017
Je viens de terminer la lecture de ce superbe ouvrage richement illustré et je tenais à féliciter les deux auteurs polonais pour leur extraordinaire enquête! Ce livre m'a appris beaucoup de choses sur la Passion du Christ et les reliques qui y sont associées et dont bon nombre existent encore de nos jours, ce que j'ignorais.
February 24, 2014
This book is the product of journalist, Grzegorz Górny, two year investigative study on the authenticity of the relics of Christ's Passion. The primary relics investigated and covered include the Shroud of Turin, the True Cross, the Holy Nails, the Sudarium of Oviedo, the Tunic of Argenteuil, the Holy Coat of Trier, the Veil of Manoppello (Veronica's Veil), the Pillar where Jesus was Scourged, and the Crown of Thorns. Also covered in a smaller chapter are items like the Spear of Longinus (the one that pierced Jesus' side) and sandals that supposedly were worn by Jesus.
As to be expected, larger chapters are focused on more well-known relics. The Shroud of Turin received over 50 pages (roughly 15% of the book) devoted to it. Though I have watched several documentaries on the Shroud, the photographs of Janusz Rosikon and the drawings mapping the images and blood stains on the Shroud were breathtaking. My favorite chapter, however, dealt with the True Cross. I know the legend and tradition associated with St. Helen (Constantine's mother) finding the True Cross. What I didn't know and learned from this book was all the information about the titulus (sign hung on the Cross). I also learned a great deal about the many fragments of the True Cross. It made me sad to read how only half of the titulus remains and also that some of the larger fragments of the True Cross were stolen, lost, or destroyed.
This book is absolutely gorgeous in terms of the pictures, illustrations, and the overall presentation. If this book were nothing but those images, it would be worth every penny. Thankfully, the writing was equally beneficial. One could say that this could be considered a textbook on relics. However, textbook has a negative connotation associated with it. This book is scholarly, but not dry; steeped in details and facts, but not boring. Grzegorz Górny really makes the subject come alive, and he did an A+ job with the numerous trips and interviews conducted to obtain all the information presented in this book. I admit that I sometimes struggle with the authenticity of relics of Christ, but after reading this book, my doubts have dissipated. So if you're a doubter like I was, or someone who believes but just wants more information, I would highly recommend this book.
This book was provided to me for free by Ignatius Press in exchange for an honest review.
As to be expected, larger chapters are focused on more well-known relics. The Shroud of Turin received over 50 pages (roughly 15% of the book) devoted to it. Though I have watched several documentaries on the Shroud, the photographs of Janusz Rosikon and the drawings mapping the images and blood stains on the Shroud were breathtaking. My favorite chapter, however, dealt with the True Cross. I know the legend and tradition associated with St. Helen (Constantine's mother) finding the True Cross. What I didn't know and learned from this book was all the information about the titulus (sign hung on the Cross). I also learned a great deal about the many fragments of the True Cross. It made me sad to read how only half of the titulus remains and also that some of the larger fragments of the True Cross were stolen, lost, or destroyed.
This book is absolutely gorgeous in terms of the pictures, illustrations, and the overall presentation. If this book were nothing but those images, it would be worth every penny. Thankfully, the writing was equally beneficial. One could say that this could be considered a textbook on relics. However, textbook has a negative connotation associated with it. This book is scholarly, but not dry; steeped in details and facts, but not boring. Grzegorz Górny really makes the subject come alive, and he did an A+ job with the numerous trips and interviews conducted to obtain all the information presented in this book. I admit that I sometimes struggle with the authenticity of relics of Christ, but after reading this book, my doubts have dissipated. So if you're a doubter like I was, or someone who believes but just wants more information, I would highly recommend this book.
This book was provided to me for free by Ignatius Press in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2021
Not only is the book very interesting, but also extremely pretty - I loved the pictures. One of the best books I've lately read. Definitely five stars.
March 22, 2023
If you're an atheist looking for an objective survey of the relics of the church, you'll spend a lot of time angry with this author. However, if you are really interested in the various things the Church has claimed were personally associated with Jesus of Nazareth while he was on Earth, this is the book for you.
In general, Gorny is biased in favor of accepting the relics. He's not blind to the potential for frauds, but he does debunk many of the common "well, that just can't be" level claims about relics of Christ. His Shroud of Turin chapter is excellent -- full disclosure, I have believed the Shroud is likely real for some time. His chapter on the True Cross is worth a library checkout all on its own. He tracks down all the claimed pieces of the Cross and determines that (contrary to popular myth) there are not "enough relics of the true cross to make a dozen crosses" but, in fact, even if all the pieces are legitimate (and he admits some likely aren't) only a fraction of the original cross is still in existence at all. The nails are less convincing, and some of the others are pretty scant on evidence, which the author freely admits. As a survey though, it's quite good.
This book may not convince anyone who isn't already leaning in the direction of believing in Christ's relics, but it's an excellent summary of the evidence that is available in support of those relics and a decent summary of the evidence against them.
In general, Gorny is biased in favor of accepting the relics. He's not blind to the potential for frauds, but he does debunk many of the common "well, that just can't be" level claims about relics of Christ. His Shroud of Turin chapter is excellent -- full disclosure, I have believed the Shroud is likely real for some time. His chapter on the True Cross is worth a library checkout all on its own. He tracks down all the claimed pieces of the Cross and determines that (contrary to popular myth) there are not "enough relics of the true cross to make a dozen crosses" but, in fact, even if all the pieces are legitimate (and he admits some likely aren't) only a fraction of the original cross is still in existence at all. The nails are less convincing, and some of the others are pretty scant on evidence, which the author freely admits. As a survey though, it's quite good.
This book may not convince anyone who isn't already leaning in the direction of believing in Christ's relics, but it's an excellent summary of the evidence that is available in support of those relics and a decent summary of the evidence against them.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews