San Thome Basilica

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San Thome Basilica
Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas
San Thome Basilica
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Location Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Country India
Denomination Roman Catholic (Latin Rite)
Website www.santhomechurch.com
History
Former name(s) San Thome Church
Authorising papal bull 16 March 1956
Dedication St. Thomas
Relics held Bone of St. Thomas
Architecture
Status Minor Basilica[1]
Functional status Active
Heritage designation National Shrine[2]
Designated 7 February 2006
Style Neo-Gothic
Completed 1523 (Current building 1896)
Specifications
Length 64 metres (210 ft)
Width 12.2 metres (40 ft)
Nave width 10 metres (33 ft)
Spire height 47.2 metres (155 ft)
Clergy
Archbishop Abp. George Antonysamy

San Thome Basilica (Tamil: சாந்தோம் பசிலிக்கா, Cān-Tōm Pacilikkā; Portuguese: Basílica de São Tomé) is a Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) minor basilica in Santhome, in the city of Chennai (Madras), India. It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the tomb of St Thomas, an apostle 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.

History

St Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, arrived at Muziris in present-day Kerala state in India from Judea in 52 A.D. and preached between 52 A.D. and 72 A.D., when he was martyred on St. Thomas Mount.[1]

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.[1]

Gallery

  • The tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle

  • Main altar at San Thome Church

  • Mother Mary at San Thome Church

  • Jesus Christ at main altar in San Thome Church

  • San Thome Church

  • SanthomeFlagPole.JPG

    New brass flag pole at San Thome Church

  • Marian grotto at San Thome Basilica

  • Evening view of the basilica

  • San Thome Basilica, c. 1905

  • Interior view of the basilica (before renovation)

  • The nave of the basilica

  • Interior from main entrance

  • Lily pond at San Thome Basilica

  • San Thome Basilica

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ National Shrine Status Archived 27 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine

External links

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