The History Channel(R) Invites You to Our House for the Holidays!

The History Channel(R) Invites You to Our House for the Holidays!

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday-themed highlights include:

Decoding the Past. Unraveling the Shroud. For centuries the Shroud of Turin has been a touchstone of faith for millions. Many believe it is the primary evidence of the way Jesus Christ died on the cross. But is it real or a clever forgery? Did Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci play a trick on the Roman Catholic Church? We bring you the latest theories and the most current tests, some commissioned especially for the program. Despite centuries of scrutiny from scientists, theologians, and art historians, the linen cloth with the faint image has remained a three-and-a-half by fourteen foot enigma. Like a mirror, for some it has reflected what we know; for others, what we believe. CC [TVPG] 12/19, 9pm/1am; 12/24, 4pm

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/HISTORYLOGO )

Decoding the Past. Relics of The Passion. Relics of the Passion of Christ are sacred objects supposedly scattered around the globe. Are they what the faithful believe them to be? We do the detective work to track down where these relics originated and where they can be found today, explain their meaning, and often question their authenticity. The Passion of Jesus Christ encompasses the violent end of a martyr, an unsolved forensic puzzle, and the start of a worldwide religious movement. In this hour, we use the Passion as a focus to begin tracking the most important relics of the Christian faith, including: the True Cross; the Crown of Thorns; the Holy Nails of the Cross; the Titulus, a small sign stating Christ's name and crime atop the Cross; the Spear of Destiny; a mysterious burial cloth called the Sudarium; an image of Jesus that appears on the Veil of Veronica; and the Holy Grail. CC [TVPG] 12/19, 10pm/2am; 12/24, 5pm

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas. Fascinating story of how the bawdy Roman Saturnalia, a week-long festival of food and drink that culminated on December 25, became the centerpiece of the Christian year, and why the holiday is known as much for shopping as the birth of Christ. Interviews with experts, harried bargain hunters, and excited children round out the program. CC [TVPG] 12/16, 6am; 12/19, 11pm/3am; 12/22, 12pm/6pm; 12/24, 7pm

Bible Battles (World Premiere) In one of the most hostile lands on the planet, an ancient people called the Israelites forged an army and carved out an empire. Their ancient military exploits are described in one of history's most famous religious texts -- the Old Testament of the Bible. But by reading between the religious lines, military historians unlock the soldiers' secrets of the Bible by examining the weapons, strategies, and the commanders, some of whom are not always thought of as warriors, like Abraham, Moses, and Deborah. In this 2-hour special, we explore the biblical world from a military perspective from the time of Abraham until David's ascension to the throne. Blood often flows more freely than holy water in the days of the Old Testament, and the military secrets of the Bible have yet to be revealed... until now! CC [TVPG V] 12/21, 8pm/12am; 12/24, 2pm

A History of God. A fascinating look at how God has manifested himself to people from Abraham's days to the present. We explore fertility rites of the ancient Middle East; the awesome revelations at Mt. Sinai; the jealous yet compassionate God of the Hebrews; Jesus and the mystery of the Trinity; and Allah, the Muslim God of Unity. Here is the story of thousands of years of wrenching and revolutionary encounters with God that prophets, saints, and mystics have experienced, and mankind's quest for comfort and meaning. CC [TVPG] 12/21, 10pm/2am; 12/24, 12pm

A Very Ermey Christmas. R. Lee Ermey salutes more than two centuries of Christmas at War -- from Valley Forge to Baghdad, we present inspiring stories about how troops have celebrated the holiday season. Topics include the WWI Christmas truce across the trenches of the French countryside, the men of the 101st Airborne under siege during the Battle of the Bulge in Christmas 1944, the retreat at Choisin Reservoir in Korea, and the Gunny's strong involvement over the years in the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots charity program. CC [TVPG] 12/22, 10am/4pm; 12/23, 11pm/3am

The Christmas Truce. WWI began in August 1914, and by December all thoughts of quick victory had faded. Fighting was most fierce in a thin strip of land called the Western Front. A system of trenches separated Allies from Germans, with the area in between known as No Man's Land. On Christmas Eve, an astonishing event began -- up and down the Western Front, Allied and German soldiers met peacefully in No Man's Land. Actor Ioan Gruffud narrates this look at the fabled Christmas truce, filled with eyewitness accounts. CC [TVPG V] 12/22, 11am/5pm

Modern Marvels. Toys. All aboard the nostalgia express as we take a trip through the past to enjoy toys of our youth -- the ones we can't forget and those that some of use never gave up! This is the real toy story! We take a look at five categories of boys' toys and see what relationship they have had on the development of young minds; talk with collectors of antique and specialty toys; and visit companies that make electric trains, Matchbox Cars, GI Joe action figures, and LEGO Bricks, among others. CC [TVPG] 12/22, 1pm/7pm; 12/24, 6pm

Angels: Good or Evil. Winged messengers have mesmerized humans since the dawn of civilization. Isis, Hermes, Mercury, and Asmodeus set the stage for monotheism's angels -- Gabriel, Michael, and Satan. Hebraic, Christian, and Muslim scripture all describe angels and demons that were invoked in magic spells, immortalized in art, trivialized as decorative accessories, and dismissed by science. We see how their legacies shaped religion and art and hear from those who testify to firsthand encounters with these curious creatures. CC [TVPG] 12/23, 8am/2pm

In Search of Christmas. Is there actual evidence of the birth of Jesus? Was he born in Bethlehem or Nazareth, in December or April? Were the three wise men kings or Babylonian astrologers? What compelled Joseph to believe Mary's implausible tale of a divine impregnation? We'll journey back 2,000 years in a quest for the answer to these and other conundrums. We retrace Mary's arduous odyssey across ancient Israel as a host of scholars attempt to uncover the historical truth of an event as mysterious as it was momentous. CC [TVPG] 12/23, 10am/4pm

The Real King Herod. One of the most fascinating and appalling biblical figures, King Herod remains an enigma -- the cruel king portrayed in countless Christmas plays as the monster that slaughtered hundreds of babies in an effort to kill the infant Jesus. But who was Herod? We draw physical evidence from current excavation of Herod's magnificent port Caesarea, written accounts of Josephus, and scrolls newly unearthed at Petra. In a startling development, a reexamination of historical texts shows that in old age, Herod suffered from chronic kidney disease. Was his "evil" life a physical manifestation of the illness that tormented his body? Did he order the murder of children in a paranoid attack? And why did the Romans create the title "King of the Jews" specifically for him? CC [TVPG] 12/23, 12pm/6pm

The Twelve Apostles: History's Great Revolutionaries. Individually, they were nobodies -- a handful of fishermen, an angry fanatic, a tax collector -- who could have lead quiet and undistinguished lives. But united by a charismatic Jewish preacher, this ragtag gang shaped into history's most famous revolutionaries who faced a hostile world that considered them outlaws, heretics, and blasphemers. Meet Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the Lesser, Thaddeus, Simon, and of course, the infamous Judas Iscariot in this 2-hour special. They may have begun as nonentities, but the events surrounding these 12 men and their leader in a far-flung corner of the Roman Empire would change history. CC [TVPG] 12/24, 8am

In the Footsteps of Jesus. The Lost Youth of Jesus. Thousands of Christians make pilgrimages to the Holy Land yearly to visit sites connected to Jesus. But are they authentic? The search for the historical Jesus began with the first pilgrim -- Constantine the Great's mother Helena Augusta. Scholars have been trying to prove -- or disprove -- her amazing claims ever since. Traveling to Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Sepphoris in the footsteps of Jesus, we run into heated debate about where he was born, baptized, and grew up, and reveal startling new discoveries. CC [TVPG] 12/24, 8pm/12am

In the Footsteps of Jesus. From Galilee to Jerusalem. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we dig for the truth behind "accepted" Holy Land sites and review archaeological controversy about these important religious places. We examine: an Israeli scholar's 1987 discovery of the lost city of Bethsaida, where Jesus called his first disciples, healed a blind man, and fed the multitudes; a boat on the Galilee's shoreline dating to the time of Jesus; a house in Capernaum that may have belonged to St. Peter; and the possible grave of Lazarus. CC [TVPG] 12/24, 9pm/1am

In the Footsteps of Jesus. The Way of the Cross. The search for evidence of Jesus's life moves to Jerusalem and the traditional sites associated with his final days. Deep beneath the city, we explore the buried remains of Herod's temple and tread a pavement where Jesus may have walked. Delving into the mysterious histories of the Cenacle Room, Gethsemane, and the Roman Praetorium, we investigate the latest archaeological theories concerning probable sites of Jesus's last supper, arrest, and trial. Does science support or refute biblical accounts? CC [TVPG] 12/24, 10pm/2am

In the Footsteps of Jesus. The Mysteries of Golgotha. Recounting the final footsteps in the life of Jesus, we explore the traditional sites of his crucifixion and burial. Does the Church of the Holy Sepulcher truly contain the Rock of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus, or could the Garden Tomb be the authentic site? We investigate the most recent archaeological evidence and learn how it may finally answer this fascinating question. CC [TVPG] 12/24, 11pm/3am

Jesus of Nazareth. Movie. In this reverent depiction of the life of Christ, director Franco Zeffirelli uses the Gospel accounts and an all-star cast to mighty effect. Beginning before the Nativity, Part 1 stars Olivia Hussey as Mary and Yorgo Voyagis as Joseph. The Three Wise Men are portrayed by James Earl Jones, Donald Pleasence, and Fernando Rey. Christopher Plummer plays King Herod Antipas, who has John the Baptist (Michael York) put to death. (1977) CC [TVPG] Part 1: 12/25, 8am; Part 2: 12/25, 10am; Part 3: 12/25, 12pm; Part 4: 12/25, 2pm

The Antichrist (World Premiere) How would you recognize the most evil person on Earth? According to many historical texts, you should look for a brilliant, enigmatic public figure who transforms the world for good -- for a while. Basically, the last person you'd tap as Satan's human emissary. While many believe the Antichrist has come and gone, just as many believe he will soon arrive, if he's not already in our midst. Join us for harrowing look at an evil so obscure that he answers only to Satan. Real? Our group of prophecy believers and historical experts help sort it out. We follow the emergence of the Antichrist from pre-Judaic texts, through the Book of Daniel and Revelation, into Christian writings of the Middle Ages, and other religious traditions as well. Aided by interviewees both religious and secular, comprised of eminent clergy, scholars, historians, psychologists, and culture makers, we'll examine the evil enigma from every conceivable angle. CC [TVPG] Part 1: 12/26, 8pm/12am; Part 2: 12/26, 9pm/1am.

Nostradamus: 500 Years Later. The life story of Nostradamus unfolds in medieval Europe at the time of the Great Plague and the Inquisition. He lived in an age of superstition and magic and believed that he could foretell the future. For this he was labeled both a prophet and a heretic, and his cryptic journals continue to inspire controversy just as they did in the 16th century. In this 2-hour examination of his life, we visit his birthplace in France and trace his career as doctor, astrologer, father, and seer. CC [TVPG] 12/27, 8pm/12am

Countdown to Armageddon. Asteroids on a collision course with Earth, super volcanoes, global warming, killer viruses -- all are potential catastrophes that threaten to wipe out life on our planet. Are these simply natural disasters that have been occurring since time immemorial? Or are these threats terrifying prophesies from the Bible that are at last coming true? Are our fears overblown? Or are the infamous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse riding among us in a countdown to Armageddon? CC [TVPG] 12/30, 8pm/12am

Now reaching more than 88 million Nielsen subscribers, The History Channel(R), "Where the Past Comes Alive(R)," brings history to life in a powerful manner and provides an inviting place where people experience history personally and connect their own lives to the great lives and events of the past. The History Channel has earned six News and Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's "Save Our History(R)" campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. The History Channel web site is located at http://www.history.com/. Press Only: For more information and photography please visit us on the web at http://www.historychannelpress.com/.

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Source: The History Channel

CONTACT: Katie Bradshaw, +1-212-210-9108, katie.bradshaw@aetn.com, for
The History Channel

Web site: http://www.history.com/

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