Santhome Church Chennai

St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai

Santhome Church in Chennai also known as Santhome Cathedral Basilica and International Shrine of Saint Thomas Cathedral Basilica, sits on the tomb built over the mortal remains of one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Saint Thomas had come to India in A.D.52, was martyred in A.D.72 and buried in this very site then known as Mylapore. “San Thome” assumes its name from Saint Thomas.

St. Thomas's tomb at Santhome Church, Chennai

It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the tomb of Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. In 1893, it was rebuilt as a church with the status of a cathedral by the British. The British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century. This church is one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus, the other two being St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain.

History

According to legend, Saint Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, arrived at Muziris in present-day Kerala state in India from the Roman province of Judea in A.D. 52 and preached between A.D. 52 and A.D 72, when he was martyred on St. Thomas Mount.

It is claimed that St Thomas' apostolic ministry in India took place specifically at Cranganore along the Malabar coast from 52 A.D to 68 A.D. His journey through Kerala is said to have resulted in numerous conversions. After spending 10 years on the Malabar coast he is said to have travelled Eastwards across the Deccan Plateau, arriving in Mylapore in 68 A.D. The cave at little mount is claimed to be his favourite preaching spot. A 2000 year old never drying, a miraculous stream of water on a rock face are said to be examples of the apostle's divine exploits. A church atop St. Thomas mount was built by Portuguese in 1547 to mark the spot. It was on this St. Thomas Mount that the apostle was said to be killed by a lance which pierced through his back.

Main Altar of St Thomas Basilica, Chennai

His mortal remains were believed to be buried in the location over which the present day Santhomes Cathedral Basilica stands. Sometime in the 10th century A.D a group of Nestorian Christians from Persia founded the Christian village of San Thomes and proceeded to build a church over the burial site of St. Thomas. This structure fell to ruins between 14th and 15th century. In 1522 the Portuguese moved the apostle's remains to a new tomb and church which attained the status of Cathedral in 1606.

Pope Pius XII honoured the Cathedral Church of the Archdiocese of Madras - Mylapore raising it to the rank of Minor Basilica by apostolic brief dated 16 March 1956. Massive followings and the immense devotion of people to a very ancient image of the Blessed Virgin also known as “Our Lady of Mylapore” was among the motives that prompted the Pope to bestow this honour.

There was 118 years of insecurity and uncertainty from the time the Golconda’s occupied San Thome in 1662 to 1780. No considerable changes happened to the original structure of the church built in 1523. It was only in 1893 that his Excellency Dom Henrique José Reed da Silva, Bishop of Mylapore resolved to build a new church with the tomb of the apostle in the centre. The second small tower in the centre of the existing cathedral points to the exact place where the apostle was buried. The present Gothic style church was completed in 1896 and duly consecrated by Rt. Rev. Dom Henrique José Reed da Silva, the first Bishop of the diocese. In 1956 the church was elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica.

San Thome Basilica is the principal church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore. In 1956, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the status of a Basilica Minor, and on 11 February 2006, it was declared a national shrine by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. The San Thome Basilica is a pilgrimage centre for Christians in India. The church also has an attached museum.


Mass Timings

Monday to Saturday	Session Title
05.45 am	Adoration, Rosary
6.15 am	Mass in English
11:00 am	Mass in Tamil (Crypt Chapel)
05.30 pm	Benediction
05.45 pm	Rosary
06.15 pm	Mass in Tamil
Sundays
06.00 am	Mass in Tamil
07:15 am	Mass in English
08:30 am	Mass in Tamil
10:00 am	Mass in English
11:30 am	Mass in English
05:30 pm	Mass in English (Crypt Chapel)
06:00 pm	Mass in Tamil & Eucharistic adoration
Special Devotions and Mass
Day of St. Thomas: Special Devotion, Car Procession, Mass, Eucharistic adoration & Holy Relic blessing at 6:15 pm on the 3rd of every month		Day of our Lady of Mylapore: Mass and car procession & anointing of the sick at 6:15 pm. On Second Saturday of every month. Every Friday: Eucharistic adoration, Divine Mercy Prayer & short Holy Mass inside Shrine Basilica at 3pm.

How to Reach Santhome Church

By Air: Santhrome Church can be reached by Air through Chennai International Airport, which is just 16 km (around 30 mins travel) from Santhome Church. From airport, we can take a Cab/Bus which are frequently available.

By Bus: There are plenty of  buses available from  various locations. So take a bus from bus point with a ticket to Santhome Church

By Road. Santhome is in Chennai and well connected to the road; it is south of Marine Drive and easy to travel via road, on Santhome High Road.

Contact

Address
National shrine of St. Thomas Basilica, 38, Santhome High Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004, India.

Email: parishpriest@santhomechurch.in
Phone:+91-044-2498 5455