What is St Thomas Cathedral in Chennai famous for?
St Thomas Cathedral is a 16th century basilica, built during the Portuguese reign in Tamil Nadu, India. The church was originally a tomb of Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. In the 19th century, it was rebuilt by the British and bestowed with the status of a cathedral. The building depicts the Gothic style of architecture, which is specific in the Southern parts of India.
History of the St Thomas Cathedral
Saint Thomas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He arrived the Malabar Coast in India during 52 AD and preached his teachings in India till 72 AD. He was martyred at St Thomas Mount.
The mount was a small hill top and a favourite preaching spot of Saint Thomas. The same place was built as St Thomas Mount. People believe that the never drying stream of water at the spot arrived as a miracle and to acknowledge the good deeds of the Saint.
There are many stories associated with the miracles of the Cathedral. One, a group of people tried to relocate the burial of Saint Thomas. Those people encountered untimely death, immediately after their attempt.
Another story people narrate is in the 10th century, a group of Nestorian Christians from Persia attempted to build a church over Saint Thomas’s burial. But the entire structure collapsed very soon. Later in the 16th century, the Portuguese relocated the apostle’s remains to a new tomb, which was upgraded to cathedral by British.
If you are planning to visit the Saint Thomas Cathedral in Chennai, an easy travel option you can choose is renting a car. If you are travelling from Central, Eastern, or Northern parts of India, you might find difficulty in communicating with the locals and hence finding the route. Booking a taxi to take you to the cathedral and nearby places could be a good choice.
Address: 38, Santhome High Road, Basha Garden, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004, India
Phone: +91 44 2498 5455
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