GOSHEN -- What we can see and touch sometimes leads us to believe in the unseen.

That's what motivated Brian Cray, associate pastor at Faith United Methodist Church, to commission a full-size replica of the burial cloth of Jesus.

Known as the Shroud of Turin, the original cloth features the imprint of the face, body and wounds of the Christian religion's central figure. It is guarded and venerated in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. But local Christians can contemplate Cray's version of the holy Easter relic, which is on display in the church's narthex at 22045 C.R. 18.

The full size, 14-by 4-foot copy was created by a graphic artist. Cray secured noncopyrighted photographs of the original burial cloth for the artist to work from. The result is to scale and imposed on a linen cloth similar to the Turin Shroud.

Cray himself has made several other replicas of items that call to mind the Passion of Jesus, including the Suderium of Oveido, or the face cloth; a Roman whip; the spear that pierced Jesus' side; and a crown of thorns. He spent two years focusing solely on the re-creation of a sign that the Bible says hung above

Jesus' head on the cross, prclaiming that he called himself, "The King of the

Jews." The actual sign -- called the Titulus Crucis -- is preserved in the Church of the Santa Croce in Italy.

"My background's in biblical studies, so it's always been kind of a lifelong desire of mine to do this," he said.

The pastor initially intended to collect replicas of the items, but found there were few to be had. Trips to Israel and Rome further developed his interest in acquiring copies of Christian artifacts, until two years ago he took it upon himself to create or commission them.

His research for the re-creation of the Titulus Crucis prompted a surprise call from the original item's authenticator, Michael Hesemann, who offered suggestions to improve Cray's work.

The shroud is Cray's most recent replica project.

"I'm a pastor ... so I'm committed to being conscious of new ways of making sure people understand what happened," he said.

He plans to use the shroud at Holy Week services, including at a live stations of the cross that the church will carry out from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Bible study groups at the church are taking the opportunity of having a compelling visual aid to discuss the details surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection.

  

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