SHENANDOAH - The Rev. Archpriest Daniel Troyan took the long drive from Cherry Hill, N.J., to Shenandoah on Saturday in a truck carrying a very special cargo - the Shroud of Turin replica - for a two-week stay in the borough.
The shroud replica was transported from St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Cherry Hill to St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shenandoah for the public to see an exact replica of what is believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The original Shroud shows an image of a crucified bearded man from Galilee who was scourged, had worn a crown of thorns and had his wrists and feet pierced by nails.
When the truck arrived and parked in front of the church, a crew of male volunteers were ready to remove the shroud replica, which is attached to a large wooden platform display designed to allow the public to see it at an angle. The replica can be touched directly.
Troyan, along with parishioners Ken Balchus, Paul Kerrick, John Mentrikoski, Joseph Chowanes, Paul Pecunas and Demetrius Grabowsky, carried the platform very carefully up the main steps and straight down the center aisle, turning it 90 degrees and placing it on the steps in front of the icon wall or iconostasis, leaving enough room in between both to allow Divine Liturgies and other services to be held.
"It's a challenge getting it here," Troyan said. "One year we were looking if we could do it in two sections, but then we would have to keeping moving the shroud material and that would weaken it every time, so we decided to keep it just in one piece."
Once the display platform was in place, Kerrick and Balchus began connecting the spotlights that will illuminate the shroud. Displays in the vestibule were also set up explaining the shroud and brochures and holy cards were also readied for distribution.
At the shroud, Winifred Mohutsky and Carol Kalavage began cleaning the shroud frame, vacuuming the carpeting and doing what was needed to prepare the area for the public to see the exhibit.
"When it's displayed, it's displayed nicely and gives it much dignity," Troyan said, explaining that the platform was constructed through the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, which has sponsored the exhibit for three years. Troyan is the archeparchy's director of evangelization and coordinates the shroud's visits. St. Michael's is sponsoring the local visit with the cooperation of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Saint Clair. Monsignor Myron Grabowsky pastors both parishes and has been instrumental in promoting the local visit through the media and other venues.
This is the second time the replica has been exhibited in the county. It was displayed from March 21 to April 1, 2012, at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 415 Front St., Minersville, according to newspaper archives.
As the volunteers worked around the shroud, there was much respect shown to the replica. Parishioner Charles Calise was involved in the planning for the visit and was very moved to see the shroud for the first time.
"Amazing. Truly amazing," Calise said on his first impression. He stared at the shroud and couldn't say anything for a short time because he was choked up and tears flowed.
"He (Jesus) died for us," Calise said with emotion. "When you see this, it brings out the emotions when you see that Jesus died for us. If you put the original Shroud next to this, they're identical. This is truly amazing. I'll never get to see the original, but now I can see this in Shenandoah. There are no words that express how you feel."
The Vatican-approved replica - one of nine such replicas - is on display beginning today at 9 a.m., with a Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. to officially welcome its arrival. The church will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through March 8 to allow visitors to see the replica of the Shroud of Turin. Regular church services during the two weeks will be held during those times. The replica will be removed from the church on the morning of March 9, when it will be transported to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Wilmington, Del., for two weeks.