San Thome Basilica

San Thome Basilica

More Info about Chennai About Tourism in Chennai » Chennai Sightseeing, Quick Facts » Cheap Flights to Chennai » Map of Chennai » Traveller Feedback on Chennai » Chennai Q&A Forum »

The majestic edifice of the San Thome Basilica stands tall against the azure blue backdrop of the ocean and enshrines the tomb of St. Thomas. The Basilica, one of the finest in India is a popular tourist spot and a pilgrimage center for Christians across India. According to tradition, St.Thomas, (referred to as Didymus in the Gospel of St.John) was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and one of the prime witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. He is believed to have come to India in the year 52 A.D. He worked initially along the West Coast and then traveled to Madras. Legends say that a huge log of wood was washed ashore and could not be moved even by elephants. St.Thomas used his girdle and pulled it out. The king of Mylapore was so impressed that he donated the huge log of wood to St.Thomas who built a small chapel with it. He was martyred at St. Thomas' Mount and his disciples buried him in Santhome at the very spot where the present Cathedral now stands. When Portuguese explorers arrived at Mylapore in 1517, they were surprised to find a shrine there which was almost in ruins. The Portuguese rebuilt the church and set up a parish in 1524. It was again rebuilt by the British in the neo-Gothic style typical of that era and awarded the status of a cathedral in 1893. As you walk into the beautiful church, you are filled with a strange sense of calm and tranquility. Its dimly lit corridors and beautiful interiors commune silently with your soul. If you are visiting Chennai, a trip to the holy Basilica is well worth your time! A small museum is attached to the church.