St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai
San Thome Church, officially known as St Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas, is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church in India, at the Santhome neighbourhood of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. The present structure dates to 1523 AD, when it was rebuilt by the Portuguese, over the tomb of Thomas the Apostle, one of the Twelve commissioned by Jesus Christ.[3] In 1896, it was renovated in the Madras province according to neo-Gothic designs, as was favoured by British architects in the late 19th century. It is one of the only three churches of the apostolic age of ancient Christianity, known for enshrining the tomb of an apostle and are still standing in the world today; the other two being the St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain. In antiquity, there was a basilica built over the tomb of the Apostle Philip in Hierapolis of Phrygia, present-day Pamukkale.
Santhome Church | |
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National Shrine of Saint Thomas Basilica | |
Santhome Basilica | |
Santhome Church Location within Chennai Santhome Church Santhome Church (India) | |
13°2′1″N 80°16′40″E / 13.03361°N 80.27778°ECoordinates: 13°2′1″N 80°16′40″E / 13.03361°N 80.27778°E | |
Location | 38 Santhome High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Country | India |
Language(s) | Tamil and English |
Denomination | Catholic Church |
Tradition | Latin Church |
Website | santhomechurch |
History | |
Authorising papal bull | 16 March 1956 |
Status | Minor basilica[1] |
Founded | 1523 (500 years ago). |
Founder(s) | Portuguese explorers. |
Dedication | St. Thomas the Apostle |
Relics held | Thomas the Apostle (claimed) |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | National Shrine[2] |
Architect(s) | Captain J.A. Power (current structure) |
Style | Neo-Gothic |
Groundbreaking | 1500 |
Completed | 1523 (Current building 1896) |
Specifications | |
Length | 64 metres (210 ft) |
Width | 12.2 metres (40 ft) |
Nave width | 10 metres (33 ft) |
Height | 41 metres (135 ft) |
Spire height | 47.2 metres (155 ft) |
Administration | |
Province | Chennai |
Diocese | Madras and Mylapore |
Clergy | |
Archbishop | Archbishop George Antonysamy (2012–present) |
Priest(s) | Rev. Fr. M. Arulraj |
Assistant priest(s) | Rev. Fr. A. Ritchie Vincent |
This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (October 2022) |
History of St. Thomas the Apostle
According to the Bible, Saint Thomas was born in the Roman province of Judea. He was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He was one of the brothers of Jesus, and was named Judah, called the Twin, aka Didymus. He was the one who touched the wound of Jesus after he rose from his death. Later on in AD 52 he came to Kerala, India, to preach about Jesus and later on he moved to present-day Chennai. In AD 72 he was killed in St. Thomas Mount and he was buried in Mylapore (presently Santhome) by his disciples, and a small structural building (church) was built to mark his tomb.[citation needed]
Later on the tomb of St. Thomas was respected and maintained by Muslims and they called the tomb as "Bothuma" (House of Thomas). Centuries later, it became an abandoned structure although many pilgrims came to visit the tomb from East and Kerala.[citation needed]
Portuguese era
In 1521, the Portuguese in Goa and Bombay-Bassein sent missionaries to Madras (Chennai) seeking the tomb of the famed Thomas the Apostle, which had become neglected or was maintained nominally by Muslims, and they decided to rebuild the shrine over the tomb of the apostle. With the order and funding of King John III of Portugal they started building the church. In 1523, the structure was consecrated as a church, and Portuguese Padroado priests resumed the daily celebration of Liturgy (Holy Mass) at the site.
In 1545, St Francis Xavier visited the shrine and lived for about one year in the presbytery of the Santhome Church before he left for his mission in Ilha Formosa, the Portuguese name for the island of Taiwan. When he lived in Santhome Church he regularly prayed in front of a statue of the Virgin Mother Mary and celebrated Holy Mass; he also prayed regularly at the tomb bearing the relics of St Thomas.
British era
The church was made a cathedral in 1606 by Pope Paul V with the creation of the Diocese of Saint Thomas of Mylapore. Later the church was rebuilt with a status of cathedral in 1896 by the British in the late 19th-century style of Gothic Revival architecture. The exact place where St. Thomas was buried is marked by the second small tower in the centre of the cathedral. Pope Pius XII honoured this cathedral church, elevating it to the dignity and rank of a minor basilica in March 1956. Pope John Paul II is the only pope to have visited the church, in the year 1986. This church was declared as a National Shrine in 2004 by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. This church is also called the "National Shrine of Saint Thomas Cathedral Basilica", or as "Santhome Church". It is a very important church for worldwide Christians as it is the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle.
Architecture
Santhome Church was built in the Gothic revival architecture style of the late 19th century. The church has a rib vault ceiling made of teak wood. It was built with 16 windows and 34 stained glass with a main stained glass in altar represent "Saint Thomas Touching the Wound of Jesus Christ". The statue in the main altar indicates "Saint Thomas the apostle as Priest and Jesus Christ as King", with both sides the statue of Saint Thomas the Apostle and Saint Peter the Apostle. In addition, there are 14 Stations of the Cross attached at the side wall of the cathedral. The cathedral was built with the materials teak wood, marble and granite.
There are two spire in this church :
- First spire : acts as bell tower in the left side of church it is 147 feet tall and it can also be seen from distance.
- Second spire : was built in the center of the cathedral to indicate the tomb of Saint Thomas the Apostle.
A 200 years old British pipe organ is kept at upstairs of the church. visitors can see the pipe organ by climbing the stairs located at the Narthex of the church.
Our Lady of Mylapore
The Portuguese statue of Mother Mary was brought from Lisbon to Santhome Church in 1523 and now it is kept at the left side of the church altar is now called as Our Lady of Mylapore.
Our Lady of Mylapore, locally known as Mylai Matha, feast is celebrated in the month of December with great devotion. Second Saturday is devoted to Mylai Matha devotion. Special prayers, procession, rosary and benediction in the evening.
The wooden statue of Our Lady of Mylapore is painted in gold and placed on a special altar. Saint Francis Xavier used to spend long hours in front of this statue in prayer and deep contemplation, prayers, procession, rosary and benediction in the evening.
Pole of St. Thomas
It is believed that Apostle Saint Thomas erected this pole made out of the wood washed ashore. Faithful believe that the presence of this pole saved their life and cathedral during the devastation of Tsunami on 26 December 2004.
Timeline
- AD 72 – Saint Thomas the Apostle died in St. Thomas Mount and buried in Mylapore (presently Santhome).
- 1291 – John of Montecorvino visited the tomb in Mylapore.
- 1292 – Marco Polo visited the tomb.
- 14th century – Franciscan missionaries visited the tomb.
- 1517 – Portuguese missionaries arrived to Mylapore.
- 1522 – They started building Santhome Church.
- 1523 – Santhome Church was opened.
- 1545 – Saint Francis Xavier visited Santhome Church.
- 1606 – Santhome Church was raised to Cathedral by Pope Paul V.
- 1893 – British rebuilt the Portuguese structure (cathedral).
- 1896 – Santhome Church was opened by British with the status of cathedral.
- 1927 – Santhome Church was raised to minor basilica by Pope Pius XI.
- 1986 – Pope John Paul II visited Santhome Church.
- 1996 – Century of British structure (church) was celebrated.
- 2004 – The church undergone renovation.
- 2006 – Santhome Church was declared as National Shrine of India by CCBI.
Relic held in Santhome Church
- Bones of Saint Thomas the Apostle
- Spearhead that used to kill Saint Thomas in AD 72 at St. Thomas Mount
- Holy relic of Saint Francis Xavier
- Holy relic of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
- Holy relic of Saint Philomena
Burials in Santhome Church
- Saint Thomas the Apostle
- Bishop Louis Mathias
- Bishop Antony Devotta
- Archbishop Casimir Gnanadickam
- Archbishop Anthony Rayappa Arulappa
- Archbishop Aruldas
- Bishop Francis Arthur Carvalho
Santhome Museum
Santhome Church has an attached museum contains lot of historical things belongs to Saint Thomas the Apostle and Santhome Church and the tomb. It has oldest Cross of 7th–8th centuries and Inscription. It is located at the backside of Santhome Church. And that is the way to enter the tomb of St. Thomas erected under Santhome Church. The museum has an information center about Saint Thomas the Apostle, Tomb of St. Thomas and about Santhome Church and more.
Currently there are two new structures one being the Tomb Chapel below the basilica and the other a museum-cum-theatre. Exclusive films on the patron saint Thomas and the church are screened twice daily for local and foreign pilgrims. The new underground chapel has a separate access from outside the church structure, allowing pilgrims and tourists to visit or pray at the tomb without disturbing the sacred proceedings in the church. Eucharistic celebrations happen every day at the fully air-conditioned tomb chapel.
Holy Eucharist Chapel
An adoration chapel adjoining the main church provides perfectly for those soulful, silent moments before the Blessed Sacrament. This chapel can be approached from the left wing of the church apart from an exclusive entrance from the outside. The day does not begin for scores of local public without a short or prolonged visit to this chapel.
Gallery
Stained glass
See also
References
- ^ "Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas". SanThomeChurch.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ National Shrine Status 27 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Santhome Basilica in Chennai — A historical pilgrimage indiastudychannel.com. Retrieved 30 August 2021
External links
- Official website of San Thome Church
- San Thome Church Youth Group