Parangimalai
St. Thomas_Mount | |
|---|---|
neighbourhood | |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Metro | Chennai |
| Government | |
| • Body | CMDA |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Planning agency | CMDA |
St. Thomas Mount, (Template:Lang-ta) Parangimalai is a small hillock located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Located near the neighbourhood of Guindy and very close to Chennai International Airport.
Syrian Christians of India trace the origin of their church to the Apostle of St.Thomas, understood to have attained martyrdom here in Chennai. From the 17th Century, this part of Chennai was populated predominantly by Anglo-Indians. A serene and beautiful relic-filled church built in 1523 by the Portuguese stands on top of this 300-foot hillock. Pope John Paul II visited St. Thomas Mount on 5 February 1986.
The Indian Army operates an Officer Training Academy (OTA) at the bottom of the mount. The Southern line of the Chennai suburban railway has a station named after St. Thomas Mount here.
Location in Context
Areas of Chennai | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Hill Shrine
A shrine dedicated to "Our Lady of Expectation" (Mother Mary) was built in 1523 on top of the mount. It is believed that the altar of this shrine was built on the spot where St.Thomas' death may have occurred. At the northern foot of the mount, is a gateway of four impressive arches surmounted by a cross bearing the inscribed date 1547. A flight of 160 steps leads up to the summit of the mount. There are fourteen stations of the cross erected on the way to the summit.
