Scientists working for the Italian government claim to have discovered evidence that a supernatural event created the famous marks on the Shroud of Turin.
Though radiocarbon dating indicates the cloth is of medieval origin, many still believe the relic to be the actual burial robe of Jesus Christ.
A new study now suggests that the image on the shroud, thought to be an imprint of Christ's face, could only have been made by ultraviolet lasers.
As lasers did not exist in either biblical or medieval times, researchers from the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, are pointing towards some form of supernatural involvement.
By looking to identify "the physical and chemical processes capable of generating a colour similar to that of the image on the shroud," the study found that only ultraviolet lasers could create similar markings, concluding that some form of "electromagnetic energy (such as a flash of light at short wavelength)," was responsible.
"The results show that a short and intense burst of UV directional radiation can colour a linen cloth so as to reproduce many of the peculiar characteristics of the body image on the Shroud of Turin," said the study in a statement.
However, professor Paolo Di Lazzaro, who led the research, would not be drawn on the spiritual implications of his work.
"We hope out results can open up a philosophical and theological debate but we can leave the conclusions to the experts, and ultimately to the conscious of individuals," he said.