St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai
San Thome Basilica | |
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![]() San Thome Basilica | |
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13°2′1″N 80°16′40″E / 13.03361°N 80.27778°E | |
Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Country | India |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Website | www.santhomebasilica.com |
History | |
Former name(s) | San Thome Church |
Status | Minor Basilica[1] |
Dedication | St. Thomas |
Relics held | Bone of St. Thomas |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | National Shrine[2] |
Designated | 7 February, 2006 |
Style | Gothic |
Completed | 1523 |
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. Malayappan Chinnappa |
San Thome Basilica 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, and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893. The British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.
History
Christian tradition holds that St Thomas one of the twelve disciples of Jesus arrived in Kerala from Israel in 52 A.D. preached between 52 A.D. and 72 A.D., when he was martyred on St. Thomas Mount.[citation needed]
San Thome Basilica is the principal church of the Madras-Mylapore Catholic Archdiocese. In 1956, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the status of a Minor Basilica, and on February 11, 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. [3]
Gallery
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Marian grotto at San Thome Basilica
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Evening view of the basilica
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San Thome Basilica, c. 1905
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Interior view of the basilica (before renovation)
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The nave of the basilica
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Interior from Main Entrance
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Lily pond at San Thome Basilica
See also
- Roman Catholicism in India
- Saint Thomas of Mylapur
- Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
- Poondi Matha Basilica
- Our Lady of Snows Basilica
- Christianity in India
- Christianity in Tamil Nadu
References
- ^ About San Thome Basilica
- ^ National Shrine Status
- ^ "Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas". SanThomeChurch.com. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
External links
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