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Saint Thomas Basilika
Chennai, India |
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Sct. Thomas Basilika,
Chennai, India, seen from the street.
The Chennai Medina at the Bay of
Bengal.
The white Sct. Thomas Basilika is seen in the background
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Saint Thomas
in India |
Christians probably reached India during the first century
dated from the birth of Jesus Christ. There is strong evidence that one of
Jesus' disciples, Thomas reached India in 52 AD, only 20 years after
the crucifixion of Christ.
The disciple Thomas went to India to preach the word of
Jesus Christ. He arrived at the Malabar west coast in South India
and went to cities as Palayur, Quilon, Chayil, Cranganur,
Parur, Niranom, Kottamangalam. Therafter he crossed the
Indian peninsula to the the Coromandel Coast and lived in a
cave on Little
Mount Thomas in Mylapor, now a subburb in Chennai.
Thomas lived in India for nearly twenty years and he met his
martyrdom in the year 72 AD.
In this period Thomas also went to China to preach the
Gospel.
After
his return to India in 72 AD, Thomas met a martyrs death by
being stabbed to death, at
Big Mount Thomas. For having converted the wife
and son of a prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur (Melipur,
Mylapur), the holy apostle was locked up in prison, suffered
torture, and was finally pierced with a spear while praying
at the alter on top of the mount. Still the lance head is
kept in the museum at the St. Thomas Basilika. Other relics
of the Apostle are found in India, Hungary and on Mount
Athos in Greece.
A strong
community of
Syrian Malabar Christians still exists in western part of
South India. They are descendants of the local people and
Jewish diaspora in Kerala. They are called Syrian Christians
as they have used Syrian liturgy since the early days of
Christianity in India. Syrian is the classical form of
Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke.
December 18th is St. Thomas Day and is still kept holy and celebrated
among the Thomas Christians.
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Three places related to Sct. Thomas in
Chennai |
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There are
three places in Chennai that stands out as monuments,
speaking about the presence, activity and the
martyrdom of Sct. Thomas, the Apostle of India. They are: 1.
Little Mount, 2. Sct. Thomas Mount and 3. San Thome Cathedral
Basilika.
According to the legend Sct. Thomas lived and is buried on
Little Mount
Thomas
in Mylapore, a suburb south west of the
city center of modern Chennai, formerly known as Madras.
Big Mount Thomas,
is a small rocky hill just north of Chennai airport. It was here an enemy stabbed Thomas in the back during prayer.
Sct. Thomas Basilika, is a church built 1896 AD, in Portuguese
style, by the Thomas Christians. Still there is a strong
community of believers in Sct. Thomas in the Chennai area. |
Sct. Thomas Basilika
church tower
Sct. Thomas Basilika main
entrance
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A walk in the
church premises |
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A beautifull tableau welcomes the
visitor
The Beautitudes carved in red
granite.
"Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God."
The whole tableau
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The shrine of
the Virgin Mary |
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The Shrine of the Virgin Mary,
with the idol of Mother Mary,
is said to have been brought from Portugal in 1543.
Mother Mary, light offerings at
the shrine.
The soft and delicate idol of
Mother Mary
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Inside the
church |
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The alter in
Sct. Thomas Basilika
Jesus Christ in front of the
altar,
flanked by the national bird of India, the Peacock
Stained glass window behind the
altar depicting
the life of Jesus Christ and Saint Thomas
Detail of the stained glass window
Side alter for Saint Thomas
Chandelier
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The Museum and
the Tomb of Thomas |
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Entrance to
the tomb of Sct. Thomas Basilika and
the
Museum & Information Center
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The Museum |
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General wiev in the Museum
of St. Thomas.
The lance head that killed St. Thomas and some bonefragments
is seen on the small table in the middle.
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"The lancehead
that killed Thomas" |
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The text on
this relic:
"The lancehead that killed Sct. Thomas and his
precious bone ensconsed and preserved till today."
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Thomas met an early death for having converted the wife
and son of a prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur (Melipur,
Mylapur).
The holy apostle was locked up in prison, suffered
torture, and was finally pierced with a spear while praying
at the alter on top of Big Mount. Still the lance head is
kept in the museum at St. Thomas Basilika. Other relics of
the Apostle are found in India, Hungary and on Mount
Athos in Greece. |
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Beautiful idol of St.
Thomas
Display of
various Christian crosses.
The cross in the middle is carved with the name of Jesus Christ.
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The Tomb |
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The tomb of
St. Thomas
The tomb of
St. Thomas
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Marco Polo
visited the tomb of St. Thomas in 1293 and recorded about
the miraculous healing powers of the sand taken from the
tomb. Pilgrims used to take sand back to their homes and
keep it with devotion. For the benefit of the pilgrims, the
Shrine is providing a "Relic Card" embedded with sand taken
from the tomb. |
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Tableau
depicting the stabbing of the disciple Thomas during prayer
on Big Mount
Always fresh Lotus
flowers when you enter the shrine
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