Peachtree City resident Russ Breault has been researching and lecturing on the Shroud of Turin for over 25 years.

As the president of the Shroud of Turin Education Project, Inc., Breault has been selected to speak at the next international conference on the Shroud of Turin to be held at Ohio State University August 14-17, 2008. Scientists and researchers from around the world will be in attendance.

Breault’s paper is “Advancing the Shroud into the 21st Century.” His presentation makes use of over 150 images, unfolding like a CSI investigation. Breault will focus on the creation of a new online education site, www.ShroudUniversity.com, for students of all ages. Designed to advance interest and information on one of the world’s greatest mysteries, it offers numerous resources for papers, presentations and projects. Divided into ten academic schools, Shroud University features streaming video, audio, podcasts and links to hundreds of online articles.

The Shroud of Turin is an ancient linen cloth that bears the faint image of a 5’10” bearded, crucified man. It is covered with bloodstains that match the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion. The Shroud currently resides in Turin, Italy, but the historical trail goes back through France, modern day Turkey and probably originated in the Middle East according to botanical evidence.

Skeptics say it is a medieval artwork, however, no artistic substances are responsible for the mysterious image as determined by 24 scientists with the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP), who studied the cloth for five days in 1978. The bloodstains are from actual wounds as determined by blood chemistry. The cloth appears to have wrapped a corpse, but there are no stains of decomposition.

The Shroud was largely dismissed in 1988 when carbon dating indicated a medieval origin, however, recent chemical research published in 2005 shows the single sample cut from a corner edge was not part of the original Shroud material. The sample used for dating was cut from the most handled area of the cloth and should have been avoided. The sample appears to have come from a section repaired during the Middle Ages. Many scientists now believe the carbon dating result should be discarded.

Breault has devoted his life to researching and lecturing on the subject. “Shroud University will play an important role in advancing knowledge of what may be the most important and instructive archaeological artifact on the planet,” said Breault.

Breault has captivated hundreds of audiences from New York to Hawaii. College and university presentations include Duke, Auburn and West Point and numerous church events include Coral Ridge Presbyterian, home of Dr. D. James Kennedy. He has also been a guest speaker at scientific societies including the American Chemical Society.

Breault has appeared in seven nationally televised documentaries including “Mysteries of the Ancient World” on CBS and dozens of local and national TV and radio interviews including Focus on the Family and The 700 Club. He hosted and produced 12 episodes of “The Shroud Report,” a half-hour interview show with the world's leading experts.

He has participated in nearly every international research symposium since the first Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) conference in 1981. Breault has attended both recent public exhibitions in Turin, Italy in 1998 and 2000. The next one will not occur until 2025.

When asked why he remains interested in such a controversial subject, Breault replied, “The Dead Sea Scrolls was the big find of the 20th Century. Perhaps one day we will figure out the most important find of all is kept in a small Italian cathedral hidden by controversy and confusion instead of dirt and debris.”

As a lecturer and researcher, www.ShroudEncounter.com explains some of the background related to the Shroud of Turin and describes what audiences can expect when they see this powerful multi-media presentation. A purely educational site, Shroud University’s site can be found at www.ShroudUniversity.com.

For more information on the conference, Shroud University or his multi-media presentation known as Shroud Encounter, send Russ Breault an email at Russ@ShroudEncounter.com.

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