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An indestructible cloak
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imprinted with a divine image.
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Small fragments of wood
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believed to possess
sacred energy.
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And an ancient Egyptian staff
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imbued with the power of God.
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Throughout the world,
there are objects in museums,
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churches and private collections
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that are said to come
from biblical times
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and the saints and
martyrs whose lives
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were devoted to God.
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Many believe that
these priceless items
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not only prove that the stories
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from the Old and New
Testaments are true
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but that the artifacts also
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have the power to
perform miracles.
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Could the objects we
know as biblical relics
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really be authentic?
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And might they actually
possess divine energy?
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Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.
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While tending his flock
of goats in the rocky hills
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just northwest of the Dead Sea,
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Bedouin shepherd Muhammed ed-Dib
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spies the entrance to
a long-forgotten cave.
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Inside, he finds an
assortment of dusty clay jars
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containing fragments of
parchment and papyrus
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with writing in Hebrew,
Aramaic and Greek.
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They are the ancient
Jewish manuscripts
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we now call the
Dead Sea Scrolls.
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The Dead
Sea Scrolls are the oldest copies
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of the Hebrew Bible that we have
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by a thousand years.
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Prior to their discovery,
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the oldest copies of
the Bible that we had
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were from about 1100 AD.
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So, these scrolls were arguably
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the greatest discovery
of the 20th century.
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Over the course of
the ten-year excavation project,
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archeologists recovered more
than 15,000 scroll fragments
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from 12 separate caves.
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And as scholars painstakingly
pieced the writings together,
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what they deciphered
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was a lost history of
biblical proportions.
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The Dead
Sea Scrolls are really fascinating
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because some of them
are books that didn't make it
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into the Bible,
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like the Book of Tobit,
the Book of Jubilees,
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the Book of Enoch.
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So, this is a brand-new set
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of other information
about the Bible.
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The Dead Sea Scrolls
fundamentally changed the way
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we read the Bible
because it shows us
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that there was another
group of sectarian Jews
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who had books in their Bible
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that didn't end up making
it into the Hebrew Bible.
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And so now we ask the questions:
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Well, why do these guys believe
something that's so different?
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And so, we probably have
just as many new questions
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now that we've discovered
them than we had before.
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00:03:25,708 --> 00:03:28,000
The creation
of the biblical canons,
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along with their carefully
chosen hiding places,
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seems like a clear indication
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that these manuscripts were
considered very important,
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at least for as long as time
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and the fragile
parchment would allow.
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But perhaps the most intriguing
discovery in the Qumran desert
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was an extraordinarily
well-preserved scroll
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created to endure
the test of time,
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because this document
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was intentionally
made of copper.
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00:04:00,708 --> 00:04:04,167
The Copper Scroll is one
of the Dead Sea Scrolls,
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but it's unlike all the others.
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It was actually discovered
in what's called Cave Three,
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the third cave around Qumran.
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This scroll is entirely written
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on a sheet of copper alloy.
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It's about eight
and a half feet long.
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And it had been rolled up
after it was engraved in antiquity
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and set into the caves.
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So this is really
an astonishing find.
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Obviously, there was a
lot of thought into making
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this particular
scroll out of copper.
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They wanted something
that could go through
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all kinds of catastrophes
and still be able to convey
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the information
that it has inside it.
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When it was first
discovered, the Copper Scroll
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was sealed shut by
thousands of years of corrosion,
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preventing scholars
from unraveling
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the secrets it held inside.
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But in 1955,
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English archaeologist
John Allegro
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and engineers at the
University of Manchester
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were able to carefully
cut the scroll into sections
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and reveal its ancient
Hebrew inscriptions.
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What Allegro discovered
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was nothing short
of astonishing.
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His translations revealed
that the Copper Scroll
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is actually a treasure map.
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The Copper Scroll
is an inventory of treasure,
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63 locations of a massive
amount of treasure.
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We're talking like $300 billion
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worth of treasure
in today's money.
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The Copper
Scroll is a list of locations
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where one can expect
to find all sorts of riches.
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Gold, coins, artifacts.
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So, many people have viewed it
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as kind of an
ancient treasure map.
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Unfortunately, we've not found
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any treasure associated
with the Copper Scroll
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because a lot of the
vocabulary is strange
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and the geographical
places are unknown to us.
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Instead of ancient scripture,
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the Copper Scroll lists 63
different treasure locations
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in the Judean Desert.
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But as with any
great treasure hunt,
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there's a hook.
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The locations
listed on the scroll
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either no longer exist,
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are completely
unknown to scholars
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or just too vague to figure out.
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This is the big
mystery about the Copper Scroll.
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It's very nondescript.
It'll give a location,
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and then it'll tell you
how far down to dig.
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For instance, it'll
say something like...
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And it does this 63 times.
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So, the question is:
Where is this place?
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00:07:19,208 --> 00:07:21,500
But we just don't know.
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Could the Copper
Scroll lead to a massive fortune
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buried throughout
the Judean Desert?
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It's an incredible notion.
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But if it is true,
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then where did this
treasure come from?
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When you look at the treasure
inventory in the Copper Scroll,
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and it describes like 160
tons of gold and silver,
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00:07:45,001 --> 00:07:47,291
you have to be thinking
about, well, who would have
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160 tons of gold and silver?
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The only place that would
have that is Solomon's Temple.
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And so the idea is that:
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Is this a list of the
treasure of the temple?
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Because the temple, of
course, has gold and silver.
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What about the
things in the temple?
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Including the
most sacred object,
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the Ark of the Covenant.
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Is potentially the
Ark of the Covenant
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one of the things that is hidden
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in this, location of treasures?
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According to the Hebrew Bible,
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the sacred chest said to hold
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the Ten Commandments'
stone tablets
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was once kept in
a secret chamber
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beneath King Solomon's
Temple in Jerusalem.
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But at some point,
the Ark disappeared,
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and nobody has seen it
for thousands of years.
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Could the Copper Scrolls
reveal its hidden location?
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The idea that the Copper Scroll
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could lead us to, say,
the Ark of the Covenant
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is a tantalizing, maybe
even a seductive idea.
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The Ark of God is probably
the most powerful relic
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in ancient Israel.
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And it's reported to
have tremendous power.
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I guess if somebody
finds treasure,
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then the mystery will be solved.
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But until then, it's still
in that mysterious realm.
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Is the Ark of the Covenant
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hidden somewhere in
the Judean wilderness?
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We don't know.
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If the Copper
Scroll really does lead
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to the Ark of the Covenant,
what happens if it's found?
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How will believers react?
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Perhaps the answer can be
found by examining another relic,
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in Mexico City,
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a cloak imbued with divine
power by the Virgin Mary
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that is believed to
be indestructible.
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In a busy
plaza just north of downtown
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sits the Basilica of
Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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Every day, thousands
of worshippers
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crowd inside to pray
and to show their devotion
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to a beautifully
illustrated garment
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that hangs above
the church altar.
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It's a miraculous cloak
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known as the Tilma of Guadalupe.
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The Tilma of
Guadalupe shows the image
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of a beautiful woman
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with her head inclined downwards
and her eyes half-closed.
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And she is wearing a
gorgeous blue flowing dress.
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It's all sort of
celestial imagery of
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gold and stars
and, kind of, rays
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shooting off of her.
It's very, very beautiful.
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Like the Shroud of Turin,
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the burial cloth laid over
Jesus after the crucifixion,
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this cloak is an object
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00:10:56,833 --> 00:10:59,833
revered by Christians
around the world.
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In fact, every year, more
than 20 million people
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00:11:02,875 --> 00:11:06,833
arrive to worship the
Tilma of Guadalupe.
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00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,875
This astonishing figure
makes it the single
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00:11:10,042 --> 00:11:13,583
most popular holy
relic in the Catholic faith,
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which naturally
begs the question:
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Just what is it about the tilma
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that makes it so
important to believers?
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00:11:24,042 --> 00:11:27,542
The Tilma of
Guadalupe is a sacred image
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00:11:27,708 --> 00:11:29,998
that is thought to be
miraculously produced.
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00:11:30,917 --> 00:11:33,125
The image originates from
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a series of apparitions
of the Virgin Mary
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that appeared to
a Mexican peasant
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by the name of
Juan Diego in 1531.
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00:11:42,208 --> 00:11:47,542
So, the story is Juan
Diego is hurrying off
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00:11:47,708 --> 00:11:49,518
to see his friend
Juan Bernardino,
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who's very, very ill.
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00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,333
As he's going off to
see Juan Bernardino,
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he has an apparition.
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And the Virgin tells
him to go to a certain hill
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and to pick the roses there.
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00:12:04,501 --> 00:12:07,832
This is a strange thing.
It's actually in December.
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00:12:07,833 --> 00:12:10,625
There are not
really roses around.
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00:12:10,792 --> 00:12:14,125
But he goes, and there's
a beautiful field of roses,
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00:12:14,250 --> 00:12:17,042
and these roses aren't
even native to Mexico.
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And he gathers
them up in his cloak
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and goes and he
talks to the archbishop
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00:12:22,792 --> 00:12:24,333
about this apparition.
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He opens up his cloak
and all the roses fall out,
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and what's left is
this beautiful image
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00:12:31,500 --> 00:12:33,792
of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
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00:12:35,208 --> 00:12:37,618
Is it possible that
the image of the Virgin Mary
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00:12:37,625 --> 00:12:39,500
on the Tilma of Guadalupe
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00:12:39,708 --> 00:12:41,958
was miraculously
imprinted on the cloak
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00:12:42,042 --> 00:12:43,500
of a Mexican peasant?
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00:12:45,667 --> 00:12:48,042
And could it possess
divine healing power,
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00:12:48,208 --> 00:12:51,875
curing everything from
cancer to infertility to paralysis,
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00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,167
as millions of devoted
followers believe it does?
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00:12:57,333 --> 00:13:01,833
Part of the mystery around
this is the fact that this cloak,
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00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,542
which is made of cactus fibers
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00:13:05,667 --> 00:13:08,792
and is now almost 500 years old,
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00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,042
remains in remarkable condition.
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00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:15,042
And we have numerous
accounts of people
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00:13:15,208 --> 00:13:19,208
who attest to its power
to transform their life,
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00:13:19,333 --> 00:13:23,167
to bring prosperity, to
heal from sicknesses.
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00:13:24,292 --> 00:13:27,667
There are
literally thousands of people
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that are coming off
the bus on their knees,
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00:13:30,083 --> 00:13:32,500
and they're walking
on their knees
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00:13:32,708 --> 00:13:35,083
to get into the cathedral.
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00:13:35,250 --> 00:13:38,042
Because if you're
there to petition
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00:13:38,208 --> 00:13:41,750
Our Lady 'cause you're
sick, 'cause your child is sick,
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00:13:41,917 --> 00:13:43,237
'cause you want a blessing
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00:13:43,238 --> 00:13:45,041
for your daughter
who's getting married,
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00:13:45,042 --> 00:13:47,417
because you want
your son to get a job,
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00:13:47,542 --> 00:13:51,208
you don't come standing
in a position of arrogance.
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00:13:51,375 --> 00:13:54,792
You come on your knees
in a position of humility.
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00:14:19,542 --> 00:14:22,625
Could the Tilma of
Guadalupe actually have the power
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00:14:22,792 --> 00:14:25,142
to bestow people with
miraculous blessings?
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00:14:25,250 --> 00:14:27,167
Perhaps.
251
00:14:27,333 --> 00:14:30,417
But what may be
even more remarkable
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00:14:30,542 --> 00:14:35,458
is that the tilma appears
to be indestructible.
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00:14:38,208 --> 00:14:41,583
In November of 1921,
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00:14:41,750 --> 00:14:44,250
you had a disgruntled
man who put a bomb
255
00:14:44,417 --> 00:14:48,875
in a vase of flowers
very close to the tilma,
256
00:14:49,042 --> 00:14:50,917
to the image of Our
Lady of Guadalupe.
257
00:14:51,042 --> 00:14:53,000
He wanted to blow up the church.
258
00:14:58,042 --> 00:15:01,500
When this bomb goes off in 1921,
259
00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:03,375
it causes destruction.
260
00:15:04,625 --> 00:15:06,833
It damaged the altar.
261
00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,917
It bends a crucifix.
262
00:15:10,083 --> 00:15:14,833
It blows out windows
in neighboring homes.
263
00:15:15,042 --> 00:15:18,500
But it doesn't
damage a cloth object.
264
00:15:18,667 --> 00:15:21,083
For the devout, this is a sign
265
00:15:21,250 --> 00:15:23,625
that this is something
very special.
266
00:15:23,792 --> 00:15:26,250
This is something
that will be protected.
267
00:15:28,708 --> 00:15:31,500
How can one
explain the otherworldly attributes
268
00:15:31,708 --> 00:15:33,167
of the Tilma of Guadalupe?
269
00:15:34,667 --> 00:15:37,257
Even scientists are
bewildered by the durability
270
00:15:37,292 --> 00:15:40,167
and the detail of
the sacred garment,
271
00:15:40,333 --> 00:15:44,333
because when viewed
in the infrared spectrum,
272
00:15:44,542 --> 00:15:47,375
the painting of the Virgin
Mary imprinted on the cloak
273
00:15:47,542 --> 00:15:49,958
does not appear to
show any brushstrokes.
274
00:15:50,167 --> 00:15:52,792
And even more baffling
275
00:15:52,958 --> 00:15:55,792
is the discovery
of a hidden image
276
00:15:55,958 --> 00:16:00,458
inside the Virgin Mary's eyes.
277
00:16:04,750 --> 00:16:07,750
Using cutting-edge
computer software,
278
00:16:07,917 --> 00:16:10,125
Dr. Jos� Tonsmann
279
00:16:10,208 --> 00:16:13,500
enlarges a photograph
of the Virgin Mary's eyes
280
00:16:13,625 --> 00:16:15,667
more than 2,500 times,
281
00:16:15,875 --> 00:16:19,417
revealing a microscopic image
282
00:16:19,625 --> 00:16:22,042
reflected in her pupils.
283
00:16:23,167 --> 00:16:25,583
People have claimed
that they can see
284
00:16:25,708 --> 00:16:29,167
reflections of Juan Diego
285
00:16:29,375 --> 00:16:33,333
in the eyes of the Virgin
286
00:16:33,542 --> 00:16:35,458
on the cloak.
287
00:16:35,583 --> 00:16:38,875
And so, the idea is that,
288
00:16:39,083 --> 00:16:41,167
not only is this an image
289
00:16:41,333 --> 00:16:45,042
but it's almost like a
photographic image
290
00:16:45,208 --> 00:16:47,167
of the Virgin Mary
291
00:16:47,333 --> 00:16:51,333
that has been imprinted
upon this cloak,
292
00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:56,792
such that whatever she was
seeing when she appeared
293
00:16:56,958 --> 00:16:59,625
was actually
captured in the image.
294
00:17:00,625 --> 00:17:03,750
It's a very mysterious,
very interesting claim.
295
00:17:04,875 --> 00:17:07,917
Is the hidden image
inside the Virgin Mary's pupils
296
00:17:08,083 --> 00:17:10,250
a reflection of what
she was seeing
297
00:17:10,375 --> 00:17:13,025
the moment her likeness
was imprinted on the tilma?
298
00:17:13,208 --> 00:17:16,000
It's a fascinating notion.
299
00:17:16,208 --> 00:17:19,125
And for the faithful,
it's yet further evidence
300
00:17:19,250 --> 00:17:22,625
of the tilma's divine origins.
301
00:17:52,792 --> 00:17:54,625
Whether the Tilma of Guadalupe
302
00:17:54,792 --> 00:17:58,708
is imbued with the power
of the Virgin Mary or not,
303
00:17:58,875 --> 00:18:02,292
there's no denying it is a
truly remarkable artifact.
304
00:18:03,708 --> 00:18:05,833
But as revered as it is,
305
00:18:06,042 --> 00:18:08,500
there are other
extraordinary objects
306
00:18:08,708 --> 00:18:11,542
said to possess the
almighty power of God,
307
00:18:11,708 --> 00:18:14,375
like the Staff of Moses
308
00:18:14,542 --> 00:18:18,208
that was used to
part the Red Sea.
309
00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,792
Among the gilded daggers
310
00:18:28,793 --> 00:18:30,499
and precious jewels
on display here,
311
00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:31,958
there are a number of objects
312
00:18:32,125 --> 00:18:34,833
that allegedly date
to biblical times.
313
00:18:35,875 --> 00:18:39,208
These include a sword
supposedly used by King David
314
00:18:39,375 --> 00:18:41,375
to kill the giant Goliath,
315
00:18:41,542 --> 00:18:44,708
hairs from the beard of
the Prophet Muhammad,
316
00:18:44,875 --> 00:18:48,167
and a wooden rod
317
00:18:48,333 --> 00:18:50,500
which is claimed
to be the actual
318
00:18:50,667 --> 00:18:53,667
Staff of Moses.
319
00:18:53,833 --> 00:18:56,833
This palace used to be
320
00:18:57,042 --> 00:18:59,042
the residence of
an Ottoman sultan.
321
00:18:59,208 --> 00:19:03,167
And he was given many
precious gifts over the years,
322
00:19:03,168 --> 00:19:05,332
and one of the things
that evidently he was given
323
00:19:05,333 --> 00:19:07,708
was the Staff of Moses.
324
00:19:07,875 --> 00:19:12,000
The Staff of Moses is mentioned
in association with Moses
325
00:19:12,208 --> 00:19:14,375
in the Book of Exodus.
326
00:19:14,542 --> 00:19:17,458
And the first time
that we hear about it,
327
00:19:17,625 --> 00:19:20,375
it seems to just
be a walking stick.
328
00:19:20,542 --> 00:19:24,292
But as time goes by
in the story of Exodus,
329
00:19:24,458 --> 00:19:27,667
it really seems kind
of like a magic wand.
330
00:19:28,625 --> 00:19:31,667
Could the wooden rod
on display in the Topkapi Museum
331
00:19:31,833 --> 00:19:34,792
be the actual Staff of Moses?
332
00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,500
As incredible as it sounds,
333
00:19:36,708 --> 00:19:41,375
many people believe
the answer is yes.
334
00:19:41,376 --> 00:19:43,707
Which makes the claim
even more extraordinary
335
00:19:43,708 --> 00:19:46,333
because, according
to biblical tradition,
336
00:19:46,458 --> 00:19:50,542
the Staff of Moses was
imbued with miraculous powers.
337
00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,750
The Staff of Moses first is
used in Exodus chapter seven,
338
00:19:56,875 --> 00:20:00,208
when Moses confronts Pharaoh
about letting the Israelites go.
339
00:20:00,417 --> 00:20:04,958
He casts down his staff.
It turns into a serpent.
340
00:20:07,042 --> 00:20:11,833
The second instance it's used
is when we have the ten plagues.
341
00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,333
And in the first
of these plagues,
342
00:20:14,458 --> 00:20:19,042
Moses uses the tip of his
staff dipped into the Nile
343
00:20:19,208 --> 00:20:23,667
and turns the Nile into
a red color like blood.
344
00:20:25,321 --> 00:20:28,874
But perhaps
the most awesome display
345
00:20:28,875 --> 00:20:33,500
of the staff's divine force
occurs in Exodus 14,
346
00:20:33,667 --> 00:20:36,958
when Moses raises
the rod above his head
347
00:20:37,125 --> 00:20:39,458
and parts the Red Sea.
348
00:20:40,875 --> 00:20:43,333
In the Exodus
narrative, the Israelites
349
00:20:43,542 --> 00:20:44,958
are there at the Red Sea.
350
00:20:45,125 --> 00:20:47,175
They're being chased
by the Egyptians,
351
00:20:47,250 --> 00:20:50,333
and God basically says,
"Moses, take your staff,
352
00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:53,458
hold it over the waters,
and the waters will part."
353
00:20:54,542 --> 00:20:57,333
And the minute that the
Israelites start walking,
354
00:20:57,500 --> 00:20:59,333
the waters of the Red Sea part.
355
00:20:59,458 --> 00:21:02,333
The minute the
Egyptians come after them,
356
00:21:02,417 --> 00:21:05,000
the waters of the Red
Sea collapse upon them.
357
00:21:09,458 --> 00:21:11,917
Is it possible that
the unassuming wooden rod
358
00:21:12,083 --> 00:21:14,458
displayed in the Topkapi Museum
359
00:21:14,667 --> 00:21:18,125
is the same staff that Moses
used to free the Israelites?
360
00:21:18,292 --> 00:21:20,833
It may come as no surprise
361
00:21:20,958 --> 00:21:24,958
that many experts
doubt its authenticity.
362
00:21:26,375 --> 00:21:28,458
It is simply not possible
363
00:21:28,625 --> 00:21:31,917
to follow the provenance
of the Staff of Moses.
364
00:21:32,125 --> 00:21:37,125
And the staff that is in
the museum in Istanbul,
365
00:21:37,250 --> 00:21:41,167
there's just no way,
there's just no way
366
00:21:41,292 --> 00:21:44,458
of authenticating this
as the Staff of Moses.
367
00:21:44,625 --> 00:21:48,500
All we have is
legend and tradition.
368
00:21:49,542 --> 00:21:52,708
One real mystery
is that we don't know
369
00:21:52,875 --> 00:21:57,292
what happens to the staff
after the end of Moses.
370
00:21:57,500 --> 00:22:01,917
One story is that it
gets passed down
371
00:22:02,083 --> 00:22:03,542
through the Davidic line.
372
00:22:04,417 --> 00:22:06,250
King David has the staff.
373
00:22:06,375 --> 00:22:08,375
He uses it as a scepter.
374
00:22:08,542 --> 00:22:11,708
At that point, we
kind of lose sight of it.
375
00:22:11,875 --> 00:22:14,542
If it's true
that the mystical artifact
376
00:22:14,708 --> 00:22:18,000
disappeared from history,
then what happened to it?
377
00:22:20,208 --> 00:22:24,042
Author and relic hunter
Graham Phillips has a theory.
378
00:22:24,208 --> 00:22:27,083
He's been researching the
Staff of Moses for decades,
379
00:22:27,250 --> 00:22:29,417
and according to his research,
380
00:22:29,583 --> 00:22:33,667
there's a wooden rod in the
Birmingham Museum in England
381
00:22:33,875 --> 00:22:36,750
that was said to be
found in the ancient tomb
382
00:22:36,917 --> 00:22:40,833
where Moses was
supposedly laid to rest.
383
00:22:41,875 --> 00:22:46,625
We're told that Moses was
buried at a place called Petra.
384
00:22:47,708 --> 00:22:51,833
So, somewhere in
Petra, in this valley,
385
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,333
there's something there
called the Snake Monument,
386
00:22:55,500 --> 00:22:59,667
and it dates from the right
time, from Moses' period.
387
00:22:59,833 --> 00:23:03,500
And in the middle
of the 19th century,
388
00:23:03,708 --> 00:23:06,167
a couple of
archeologists went there,
389
00:23:06,292 --> 00:23:08,500
excavated a cave beneath it
390
00:23:08,667 --> 00:23:13,375
and believed that they had
found the tomb of Moses.
391
00:23:14,708 --> 00:23:16,698
The problem was,
there was no body in it.
392
00:23:16,708 --> 00:23:18,500
It had been robbed
at some point,
393
00:23:18,708 --> 00:23:24,167
but there was, all covered
in dust and debris, a staff.
394
00:23:25,333 --> 00:23:28,375
Eventually, this staff ended up
395
00:23:28,542 --> 00:23:31,958
in the Birmingham Museum.
396
00:23:32,083 --> 00:23:35,417
And there, in this
glass case, was this staff
397
00:23:35,542 --> 00:23:38,292
exactly as described by
these guys who'd found it.
398
00:23:38,458 --> 00:23:42,000
Dark-colored,
about four feet long
399
00:23:42,125 --> 00:23:45,333
with Egyptian hieroglyphics
in white on them.
400
00:23:45,458 --> 00:23:47,042
I couldn't believe it.
401
00:23:48,375 --> 00:23:50,167
According to the Bible,
402
00:23:50,375 --> 00:23:52,375
before Moses became
a Hebrew leader,
403
00:23:52,542 --> 00:23:55,042
he was a prince of Egypt.
404
00:23:55,208 --> 00:23:58,500
And the hieroglyphics on
the Birmingham Museum staff
405
00:23:58,625 --> 00:24:01,667
says it belonged to a member
of the royal Egyptian court
406
00:24:01,875 --> 00:24:04,333
named Tuthmosis.
407
00:24:04,542 --> 00:24:08,333
A name that bears an
undeniable similarity
408
00:24:08,500 --> 00:24:12,125
to the legendary prophet Moses.
409
00:24:14,208 --> 00:24:18,667
It says, in Egyptian
hieroglyphics on this staff,
410
00:24:18,792 --> 00:24:22,000
"This belongs to Tuthmosis."
411
00:24:22,208 --> 00:24:24,667
So, you've got a
person whose name
412
00:24:24,875 --> 00:24:29,583
could've been Moses, who
had been a prince in Egypt.
413
00:24:29,750 --> 00:24:33,750
I mean, if that's not Moses'
staff, I don't know what is.
414
00:24:36,250 --> 00:24:38,750
Could the legendary
Staff of Moses
415
00:24:38,917 --> 00:24:41,375
really still exist
and be displayed
416
00:24:41,583 --> 00:24:44,958
in a museum in
Istanbul or in England?
417
00:24:45,917 --> 00:24:47,787
It's an extraordinary
possibility.
418
00:24:47,833 --> 00:24:50,792
But perhaps even more compelling
419
00:24:50,875 --> 00:24:54,833
is a small piece of wood held
in safekeeping at the Vatican,
420
00:24:55,042 --> 00:24:58,333
which, according
to Christian tradition,
421
00:24:58,458 --> 00:25:01,125
was once part of the True Cross.
422
00:25:09,167 --> 00:25:12,417
On May 6th, 2023,
423
00:25:12,583 --> 00:25:16,458
the Prince of Wales was
crowned King Charles III
424
00:25:16,583 --> 00:25:19,583
in a coronation
ceremony that honored
425
00:25:19,792 --> 00:25:23,667
both the secular and the
spiritual role of the monarch.
426
00:25:24,708 --> 00:25:26,667
Included in the
coronation that day
427
00:25:26,792 --> 00:25:28,458
was a very special object
428
00:25:28,625 --> 00:25:30,975
commissioned specifically
for the ceremony
429
00:25:31,125 --> 00:25:34,167
called the Cross of Wales.
430
00:25:34,375 --> 00:25:36,417
What makes this cross so special
431
00:25:36,583 --> 00:25:41,375
is that it contains two
tiny slivers of wood
432
00:25:41,542 --> 00:25:46,042
that are believed to be
part of the True Cross.
433
00:25:46,208 --> 00:25:50,625
The True Cross refers
to pieces of the cross
434
00:25:50,792 --> 00:25:52,292
on which Jesus was crucified.
435
00:25:53,583 --> 00:25:57,167
So, the idea is that this
is not just any old cross.
436
00:25:57,333 --> 00:26:00,167
And you can imagine the
importance of this, relic
437
00:26:00,333 --> 00:26:03,792
because we have very few
relics associated with Jesus.
438
00:26:05,042 --> 00:26:08,167
The True Cross is very
important to Christian believers
439
00:26:08,333 --> 00:26:14,000
because it directly had
contact with Jesus's body.
440
00:26:15,125 --> 00:26:19,625
Jesus suffered on that cross.
Jesus bled on that cross.
441
00:26:19,792 --> 00:26:23,583
And believers feel that, if
they can be in the presence
442
00:26:23,708 --> 00:26:26,500
of that cross, be in the
presence of that wood,
443
00:26:26,625 --> 00:26:30,500
that they can feel
themselves connected back
444
00:26:30,667 --> 00:26:32,375
to Jesus Christ himself.
445
00:26:33,542 --> 00:26:36,250
For the past 2,000
years, the surviving artifacts
446
00:26:36,375 --> 00:26:37,833
from Jesus's crucifixion
447
00:26:37,958 --> 00:26:40,875
have been deeply
revered by believers.
448
00:26:41,917 --> 00:26:45,000
Relics such as the
bloodstained cloth,
449
00:26:45,125 --> 00:26:48,208
known as the Sudarium, that
was draped over Christ's head
450
00:26:48,417 --> 00:26:51,917
or the Shroud of Turin,
which covered Jesus's body
451
00:26:52,042 --> 00:26:53,583
after his death,
452
00:26:53,584 --> 00:26:55,541
are some of the
most sacred objects
453
00:26:55,542 --> 00:26:57,042
in the Christian religion,
454
00:26:57,208 --> 00:27:02,167
and they are said to be
blessed with incredible power.
455
00:27:03,208 --> 00:27:06,667
With Jesus relics
especially, the idea is that they contain
456
00:27:06,875 --> 00:27:10,083
a power, a sacredness,
a-a holiness.
457
00:27:10,250 --> 00:27:13,250
Sometimes, the object
itself has great power.
458
00:27:13,417 --> 00:27:15,500
For example, the Shroud of Turin
459
00:27:15,667 --> 00:27:18,167
is literally the
burial cloth of Jesus.
460
00:27:18,333 --> 00:27:20,125
It has touched Jesus.
461
00:27:20,250 --> 00:27:23,260
Jesus has been resurrected,
and he leaves the cloth behind.
462
00:27:23,333 --> 00:27:26,375
So there's a power
associated with this.
463
00:27:26,376 --> 00:27:28,041
There are often occurrences,
464
00:27:28,042 --> 00:27:31,125
miraculous healings
that come from this.
465
00:27:31,292 --> 00:27:34,002
So, you can see the
importance of that for Christians.
466
00:27:34,958 --> 00:27:38,333
And so, what more important
relic than the True Cross,
467
00:27:38,500 --> 00:27:42,042
a piece of the cross on
which Jesus was crucified?
468
00:27:43,625 --> 00:27:45,708
Today, slivers of the True Cross
469
00:27:45,709 --> 00:27:48,166
are present in churches
all around the world,
470
00:27:48,167 --> 00:27:50,708
where they are
revered by hundreds
471
00:27:50,875 --> 00:27:52,500
of millions of worshippers.
472
00:27:52,667 --> 00:27:56,583
But how do we know
that these tiny splinters
473
00:27:56,708 --> 00:27:58,583
were actually once
part of the cross
474
00:27:58,750 --> 00:28:00,750
upon which Jesus was crucified?
475
00:28:01,667 --> 00:28:03,250
The Romans crucified
476
00:28:03,417 --> 00:28:06,333
tens of thousands of people
over a long period of time.
477
00:28:07,583 --> 00:28:09,708
Now, the Bible never
mentions anywhere
478
00:28:09,709 --> 00:28:12,541
what happens to the cross
after Jesus's crucifixion.
479
00:28:12,542 --> 00:28:15,833
It talks about how his body
was taken down from the cross
480
00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:17,833
by Joseph of Arimathea,
481
00:28:17,834 --> 00:28:20,291
but it doesn't say anything
about what happens
482
00:28:20,292 --> 00:28:22,167
to the cross itself.
483
00:28:22,375 --> 00:28:23,708
In Christian tradition,
484
00:28:23,875 --> 00:28:28,542
the True Cross is
discovered by Helena,
485
00:28:28,667 --> 00:28:33,000
the mother of the
Emperor Constantine.
486
00:28:33,208 --> 00:28:37,292
Helena was a
convert to Christianity.
487
00:28:37,417 --> 00:28:39,583
And in the early fourth century,
488
00:28:39,750 --> 00:28:43,333
she embarks on a
pilgrimage in Jerusalem
489
00:28:43,458 --> 00:28:46,167
to walk the steps of Jesus
490
00:28:46,375 --> 00:28:49,833
to visit the site
of his crucifixion.
491
00:28:49,958 --> 00:28:53,083
She's taken to what we now know
492
00:28:53,250 --> 00:28:55,958
as the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre.
493
00:28:56,125 --> 00:28:59,833
And while there, she
seeks out and discovers
494
00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,333
three crosses in an area
495
00:29:03,500 --> 00:29:07,875
that is close by the tomb
where Jesus was buried.
496
00:29:08,042 --> 00:29:12,417
Which one is the True Cross?
497
00:29:13,750 --> 00:29:15,750
We have a fascinating story
498
00:29:15,917 --> 00:29:19,208
of how she actually
came to find out
499
00:29:19,375 --> 00:29:21,417
which was the True Cross.
500
00:29:23,292 --> 00:29:27,167
What Helena decided to
do was take this woman,
501
00:29:27,333 --> 00:29:30,375
this poor old woman
who was near death,
502
00:29:30,542 --> 00:29:31,802
and they brought her out,
503
00:29:31,958 --> 00:29:34,750
and they laid her on
one of these crosses,
504
00:29:34,917 --> 00:29:37,042
and she let out a groan
and she was in agony.
505
00:29:37,208 --> 00:29:39,417
And they said, "Well,
it's not that one."
506
00:29:39,418 --> 00:29:41,707
And so, they took her and
they put her on the next cross,
507
00:29:41,708 --> 00:29:44,750
and she was screaming and
hollering and just near death.
508
00:29:44,917 --> 00:29:46,792
She goes, "Not that one."
509
00:29:46,958 --> 00:29:48,768
And they put her
on the third cross,
510
00:29:48,875 --> 00:29:51,000
and she was instantly healed.
511
00:29:51,001 --> 00:29:53,416
And she got up and started
walking around, and they said,
512
00:29:53,417 --> 00:29:56,375
"Well, clearly, this
is the cross of Christ."
513
00:29:57,458 --> 00:30:02,917
And from that point on, that
became the cross of Christ.
514
00:30:04,167 --> 00:30:05,667
According to the story,
515
00:30:05,875 --> 00:30:08,958
Helena had a piece
carved off the True Cross,
516
00:30:09,083 --> 00:30:12,417
which she took to
Constantinople for safekeeping.
517
00:30:12,583 --> 00:30:14,167
Over the next few centuries,
518
00:30:14,333 --> 00:30:16,333
this relic was
further whittled down
519
00:30:16,500 --> 00:30:20,625
by churches seeking to obtain
slivers as relics of their own.
520
00:30:20,792 --> 00:30:23,000
But for the faithful,
521
00:30:23,125 --> 00:30:27,000
each one of these tiny
pieces of the True Cross
522
00:30:27,208 --> 00:30:31,833
possess the full divine
power of the original.
523
00:30:33,042 --> 00:30:35,392
The interesting
thing about biblical relics
524
00:30:35,542 --> 00:30:40,083
is that no matter how many
times you divide up a biblical relic,
525
00:30:40,250 --> 00:30:43,458
it maintains the same
kind of miraculous power.
526
00:30:43,625 --> 00:30:45,292
Every piece of the True Cross
527
00:30:45,458 --> 00:30:47,500
has equal power
to the entire cross.
528
00:30:47,667 --> 00:30:51,083
This has become the
main symbol now for Christianity.
529
00:30:51,208 --> 00:30:54,750
So, to have a piece
literally of the cross
530
00:30:54,917 --> 00:30:58,667
on which Jesus is
crucified is priceless.
531
00:30:58,833 --> 00:31:01,125
It's incalculable,
the value of this.
532
00:31:03,333 --> 00:31:05,383
It's understandable
why the True Cross
533
00:31:05,542 --> 00:31:08,875
is one of the most
revered holy relics on Earth,
534
00:31:09,042 --> 00:31:11,458
but that's not the
only artifact believed
535
00:31:11,459 --> 00:31:13,332
to have survived
the crucifixion.
536
00:31:13,333 --> 00:31:17,500
Pieces of the crown of
thorns that once adorned
537
00:31:17,583 --> 00:31:21,125
the head of Christ can also
be found around the world,
538
00:31:21,292 --> 00:31:25,625
including one on display
in an Italian Cathedral that,
539
00:31:25,792 --> 00:31:29,000
to this day, still
appears to bleed.
540
00:31:38,208 --> 00:31:39,833
The world watches in horror
541
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,833
as a massive fire rips through
542
00:31:41,958 --> 00:31:44,292
the historic Cathedral
of Notre-Dame.
543
00:31:45,625 --> 00:31:48,833
As the blaze rages on
for the next 15 hours,
544
00:31:49,042 --> 00:31:52,250
experts fear that many
of the priceless holy relics
545
00:31:52,417 --> 00:31:56,167
kept within the cathedral will
be consumed by the flames.
546
00:31:57,792 --> 00:31:59,833
Including one of the most sacred
547
00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,500
in the entire Christian
religion, the holy crown,
548
00:32:03,667 --> 00:32:09,292
or as it is more commonly
known, the crown of thorns.
549
00:32:10,375 --> 00:32:13,208
The crown of thorns
is an important biblical relic
550
00:32:13,375 --> 00:32:17,042
in the story of Jesus's
Passion, his crucifixion.
551
00:32:17,208 --> 00:32:20,208
At one point, when he's
about to be put on the cross,
552
00:32:20,375 --> 00:32:22,458
the Roman soldiers
are mocking him,
553
00:32:22,583 --> 00:32:25,750
and one of the soldiers
takes a thorny vine
554
00:32:25,875 --> 00:32:28,833
and twists it into a crown,
555
00:32:28,958 --> 00:32:32,708
and they force that
down on Jesus's head.
556
00:32:33,792 --> 00:32:37,208
The crown of
thorns is described in the Bible
557
00:32:37,375 --> 00:32:42,167
as a circlet of
thorny branches that
558
00:32:42,333 --> 00:32:45,000
probably came from
what's called the jujube,
559
00:32:45,208 --> 00:32:48,417
also known as the
Christ thorn tree
560
00:32:48,583 --> 00:32:51,833
because it's a tree that
puts out very long thorns
561
00:32:52,042 --> 00:32:55,958
on branches that can
be woven into a crown,
562
00:32:56,083 --> 00:32:59,792
so it would've caused
excruciating pain,
563
00:32:59,958 --> 00:33:02,875
and would've also resulted
564
00:33:03,042 --> 00:33:06,042
in a lot of blood
on Jesus's face.
565
00:33:07,750 --> 00:33:12,458
Despite the devastation
caused by the Notre-Dame fire of 2019,
566
00:33:12,583 --> 00:33:17,625
miraculously, the holy crown
was saved from destruction.
567
00:33:18,667 --> 00:33:21,417
And as images of the
sacred relic began to circulate,
568
00:33:21,542 --> 00:33:24,958
many were surprised to
learn that the crown of thorns
569
00:33:25,167 --> 00:33:29,083
no longer held any
of its piercing barbs.
570
00:33:29,250 --> 00:33:31,420
The thing about
the crown of thorns is that
571
00:33:31,542 --> 00:33:33,750
these thorns could
be snapped off
572
00:33:33,958 --> 00:33:36,333
and given away as
different sorts of relics
573
00:33:36,542 --> 00:33:38,292
to different places.
574
00:33:38,293 --> 00:33:39,999
And these were
kind of dispatched.
575
00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:41,870
They were sent all
over Christendom.
576
00:33:43,375 --> 00:33:46,208
Anything that touches
577
00:33:46,375 --> 00:33:51,542
a holy person has the
potential to also become a relic.
578
00:33:52,583 --> 00:33:55,458
And so, something
like the thorns,
579
00:33:55,625 --> 00:33:59,333
which would've actually
pierced the flesh of Jesus,
580
00:33:59,500 --> 00:34:02,750
that had been covered
in the blood of Jesus,
581
00:34:02,917 --> 00:34:05,375
it's hard to imagine a relic
582
00:34:05,542 --> 00:34:07,592
more powerful than
something like this.
583
00:34:07,667 --> 00:34:11,167
It is believed that these relics
584
00:34:11,292 --> 00:34:13,208
had amazing power,
585
00:34:13,209 --> 00:34:15,166
that they could heal
people of sickness.
586
00:34:15,167 --> 00:34:17,167
By being close to them,
587
00:34:17,292 --> 00:34:20,208
you could be imbued
with spiritual powers.
588
00:34:20,375 --> 00:34:23,708
So, in other words, they
had divine properties.
589
00:34:23,709 --> 00:34:27,207
While scholars
debate the number of thorns
590
00:34:27,208 --> 00:34:29,258
that were originally
on the holy crown,
591
00:34:29,375 --> 00:34:32,708
today, there are dozens of
churches all around the world
592
00:34:32,833 --> 00:34:36,917
that claim to possess
one of these sacred relics.
593
00:34:37,083 --> 00:34:39,667
And among them is a
thorn that appears to be
594
00:34:39,833 --> 00:34:43,417
nothing short of miraculous.
595
00:34:44,500 --> 00:34:47,333
There's a
church in Italy, in Andria,
596
00:34:47,417 --> 00:34:51,500
that has a thorn from
the crown of thorns.
597
00:34:51,667 --> 00:34:56,250
And on March 25th, 2016,
598
00:34:56,417 --> 00:35:01,250
in this church in Andria,
the thorn begins to bleed.
599
00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:05,833
The church maintains
that it is an authentic relic,
600
00:35:05,958 --> 00:35:10,000
and they claim that,
every time that Good Friday
601
00:35:10,208 --> 00:35:12,542
falls on a March 25th,
602
00:35:12,708 --> 00:35:16,667
the thorn itself bleeds.
603
00:35:16,833 --> 00:35:19,375
And this has been widely seen
604
00:35:19,542 --> 00:35:22,125
and was shown around
as a great miracle.
605
00:35:22,373 --> 00:35:26,457
What could
explain the miraculous powers
606
00:35:26,458 --> 00:35:29,667
of the bleeding thorn
at Andria Cathedral?
607
00:35:29,875 --> 00:35:33,333
Its mere existence is an
undeniable confirmation
608
00:35:33,542 --> 00:35:35,333
of the mysteries of faith.
609
00:35:36,542 --> 00:35:40,042
The Christian faith
had its central figure, Jesus,
610
00:35:40,208 --> 00:35:41,500
ascend into heaven.
611
00:35:41,708 --> 00:35:46,875
There are no remains
of Jesus from his tomb.
612
00:35:47,042 --> 00:35:49,625
And so, if you could say,
613
00:35:49,792 --> 00:35:52,625
"I believe in him, but
how do I prove this faith?"
614
00:35:52,792 --> 00:35:57,833
Well, here, these are the
thorns of this crown of thorns,
615
00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:01,917
and then that gives a
little tangibility to that faith.
616
00:36:03,167 --> 00:36:07,000
But not all relics are
so easily accepted as authentic.
617
00:36:07,208 --> 00:36:09,208
Like an ancient limestone box
618
00:36:09,375 --> 00:36:11,833
that is claimed to have
once held the remains
619
00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:15,833
of the brother of Jesus Christ.
620
00:36:25,625 --> 00:36:29,083
On the third floor
of the Royal Ontario Museum,
621
00:36:29,208 --> 00:36:32,292
a remarkable artifact
is put on display.
622
00:36:33,250 --> 00:36:35,333
At the time, patrons don't know
623
00:36:35,542 --> 00:36:37,412
this humble object
will soon become
624
00:36:37,583 --> 00:36:42,000
one of the most controversial
holy relics in history.
625
00:36:42,167 --> 00:36:47,208
It is an empty limestone box
dating to the first century AD,
626
00:36:47,375 --> 00:36:51,333
known as the James Ossuary.
627
00:36:53,417 --> 00:36:56,542
Ossuary
literally means "bone box."
628
00:36:56,708 --> 00:37:00,500
So, in Judaism, in the
time of Jesus particularly,
629
00:37:00,625 --> 00:37:04,958
ossuaries were very
common for Jewish burial.
630
00:37:05,125 --> 00:37:08,667
The Jewish
practice was, when a person died,
631
00:37:08,668 --> 00:37:10,416
the skeletal remains
would be gathered up
632
00:37:10,417 --> 00:37:13,500
and placed in a
niche or in an ossuary.
633
00:37:14,417 --> 00:37:17,125
And there were
thousands of these made.
634
00:37:17,126 --> 00:37:19,499
But what was valuable
about these ossuaries
635
00:37:19,500 --> 00:37:22,625
is people's names
would be written on them.
636
00:37:25,833 --> 00:37:28,250
In the case
of the James Ossuary,
637
00:37:28,251 --> 00:37:30,499
the name of the person
whose bones it holds
638
00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:32,500
is inscribed in Aramaic.
639
00:37:32,625 --> 00:37:34,500
Which, when
translated to English,
640
00:37:34,708 --> 00:37:36,500
reveals something astonishing.
641
00:37:44,750 --> 00:37:47,333
The story of the
James Ossuary itself
642
00:37:47,500 --> 00:37:50,917
first came to attention in 2002
643
00:37:51,083 --> 00:37:53,583
when an Israeli
antiquities dealer
644
00:37:53,750 --> 00:37:58,083
by the name of Oded Golan
announced its discovery.
645
00:37:58,208 --> 00:38:01,000
Now, he claimed
to have bought it
646
00:38:01,208 --> 00:38:04,667
on the antiquities
market in the 1970s.
647
00:38:04,833 --> 00:38:08,375
And most certainly,
this ossuary would attract
648
00:38:08,542 --> 00:38:11,458
worldwide attention and fame
649
00:38:11,625 --> 00:38:15,208
and perhaps even fortune,
for its discoverer.
650
00:38:15,209 --> 00:38:18,457
If you're a
Christian, if you know the Bible,
651
00:38:18,458 --> 00:38:21,667
you know that James
is one of the key figures
652
00:38:21,875 --> 00:38:23,625
in early Christianity.
653
00:38:23,750 --> 00:38:26,400
James the Just, as-as he's
known within the church,
654
00:38:26,458 --> 00:38:28,208
the brother of Jesus.
655
00:38:28,375 --> 00:38:30,708
And so, if this ossuary
656
00:38:30,875 --> 00:38:34,500
literally is the
bone box of James,
657
00:38:34,708 --> 00:38:37,178
then you've got direct
archeological evidence
658
00:38:37,333 --> 00:38:39,292
for Jesus.
659
00:38:39,458 --> 00:38:42,292
Now, of course, there's
controversy around this.
660
00:38:43,792 --> 00:38:46,292
Of the thousands
of bone boxes recovered
661
00:38:46,500 --> 00:38:49,667
from the time of Jesus,
could the James Ossuary
662
00:38:49,792 --> 00:38:52,417
have once held the
remains of his actual brother?
663
00:38:52,583 --> 00:38:54,375
It's an extraordinary notion.
664
00:38:54,542 --> 00:38:59,333
So extraordinary, in fact, that
not everyone was convinced
665
00:38:59,458 --> 00:39:02,458
of the James
Ossuary's authenticity.
666
00:39:03,542 --> 00:39:05,542
In a case that would
become known as
667
00:39:05,708 --> 00:39:07,750
the forgery trial
of the century,
668
00:39:07,917 --> 00:39:11,000
the Israeli government
charged Oded Golan
669
00:39:11,167 --> 00:39:14,708
in December of
2004 with 44 counts
670
00:39:14,875 --> 00:39:18,750
of fraud related to
the James Ossuary.
671
00:39:20,125 --> 00:39:23,375
The trial lasted seven years.
672
00:39:23,583 --> 00:39:26,792
There was hundreds of
thousands of pages of testimony,
673
00:39:26,958 --> 00:39:30,333
and one of the main
pieces of evidence
674
00:39:30,458 --> 00:39:32,875
was the patina in the letters.
675
00:39:33,875 --> 00:39:38,167
Patina is this sort
of surface coating
676
00:39:38,292 --> 00:39:40,458
that gets on stone,
677
00:39:40,583 --> 00:39:44,333
and when it was
examined microscopically
678
00:39:44,500 --> 00:39:47,167
by several very
major authorities,
679
00:39:47,375 --> 00:39:50,167
they found these
fossilized microbes.
680
00:39:50,292 --> 00:39:53,292
And so, there
was original patina
681
00:39:53,458 --> 00:39:58,083
on the surface and
inside the inscription.
682
00:39:58,208 --> 00:40:00,000
That can't be forged.
683
00:40:01,042 --> 00:40:05,542
When the verdict came
through, the judge ruled
684
00:40:05,708 --> 00:40:10,625
there's no evidence
that Oded Golan forged it.
685
00:40:13,208 --> 00:40:15,375
To date, the James Ossuary
686
00:40:15,542 --> 00:40:18,417
is one of the few relics
associated with Jesus
687
00:40:18,583 --> 00:40:21,000
that has been tested
both scientifically
688
00:40:21,208 --> 00:40:22,583
and in a court of law.
689
00:40:22,750 --> 00:40:25,042
And if the James
Ossuary is authentic,
690
00:40:25,208 --> 00:40:27,042
as many now believe,
691
00:40:27,208 --> 00:40:29,125
it would be one of
the most valuable
692
00:40:29,292 --> 00:40:31,958
biblical artifacts
ever discovered.
693
00:40:33,917 --> 00:40:38,125
But like so many other objects,
we may never know the truth.
694
00:40:38,292 --> 00:40:42,542
Remember that people
of faith are using these objects
695
00:40:42,750 --> 00:40:45,958
as a means by which
to connect to the divine.
696
00:40:46,125 --> 00:40:50,750
Is there a credible provenance
697
00:40:50,875 --> 00:40:54,167
of all of these articles, all of
these objects, these relics?
698
00:40:54,292 --> 00:40:56,833
And therein lies the mystery.
699
00:40:57,042 --> 00:40:59,500
The Bible is not
meant to be a history book.
700
00:40:59,625 --> 00:41:02,125
It's a mythological book.
701
00:41:02,292 --> 00:41:05,333
But today, we've got 3D imaging.
702
00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:07,500
We've got artificial
intelligence.
703
00:41:07,501 --> 00:41:10,124
We've got all kinds of
spectrographical analysis.
704
00:41:10,125 --> 00:41:12,791
And there's certain things
that we can point to and say,
705
00:41:12,792 --> 00:41:14,707
"we actually have
historical evidence.
706
00:41:14,708 --> 00:41:19,125
This actually is a
miraculous object."
707
00:41:21,708 --> 00:41:24,125
It's intriguing to
think that artifacts
708
00:41:24,292 --> 00:41:27,667
from more than 2,000 years
ago might still be uncovered
709
00:41:27,875 --> 00:41:30,500
and added to the
collection of revered objects
710
00:41:30,667 --> 00:41:32,750
we know as holy relics.
711
00:41:32,875 --> 00:41:35,667
Regardless if one
thinks they are real or not,
712
00:41:35,792 --> 00:41:39,167
these artifacts hold
both historical importance
713
00:41:39,375 --> 00:41:42,542
and profound
spiritual connection
714
00:41:42,708 --> 00:41:44,458
for those who believe.
715
00:41:44,583 --> 00:41:46,667
And in any case,
716
00:41:46,875 --> 00:41:49,833
whether they are charged
with divine energy
717
00:41:50,042 --> 00:41:52,833
or operate on the power
of faith itself,
718
00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:57,417
the mystery of
ancient biblical relics
719
00:41:57,583 --> 00:42:01,208
remains unexplained.
720
00:42:01,209 --> 00:42:03,841
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