San Thome Cathedral, Chennai | Photo ~ KHALVONTAWI

SAN THOME CATHEDRAL, CHENNAI:

– The Tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle is behind San Thome Cathedral in Chennai, India. One of Jesus' 12 disciples, St. Thomas is believed to have brought Christianity to India in AD 52 and was martyred at in Mylapore, near Chennai which is now known as St. Thomas Mount in AD 72. The Portuguese built San Thome Cathedral over his tomb in the 16th century, and the British rebuilt it in 1893 in Neo-Gothic style. A national shrine and major site of pilgrimage, the San Thome Cathedral holds a special Mass on 3rd July, four times a year, in honour of St. Thomas.

According to the Acts of Thomas (3rd century), St. Thomas was martyred in India, and his remains were later moved to Edessa. In AD 232, Syrian Christians transferred his relics to Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa, Turkey). Later, some relics were relocated to Chios, Greece, and eventually to Ortona, Italy, where they are enshrined in the Basilica of St. Thomas the Apostle.